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HISTORY 


TOWN   OF   GORHAM 


]M  A.  I  ISTE. 


PREPARED  AT  THE  REQUEST  OF  THE  TOAYN, 


BY    JOSIAII    PIERCE, 


PORTLAND: 


FOSTER  &  GUSHING,  AND  BAILEY  &  NOYES. 

Printed  by  Foster  &  Cushing,  over  Casco  Bank. 

1862. 


/ 


F 


PllEFACE. 


A  praiseworthy  desire  has  of  late  been  manifested  In 
many  towns  In  New  England,  to  gather  up  the  trustworthy 
documents  relating  to  the  early  settlement  and  progress  of 
our  plantations,  and  to  rescue  from  the  oblivion  to  which 
they  are  rapidly  hastening,  the  records  of  the  enterprise, 
courage,  and  sufferings,  of  our  early  ancestors. 

Such  local  statistics  must  be  interesting  to  the  citizens  of 
those  places  to  which  they  relate,  and  valuable  to  historians 
of  our  country,  as  furnishing  reliable  data  to  aid  them  In  the 
composition  of  their  works. 

I  have  devoted  some  time  in  Investigating  the  early  settle- 
ment of  the  town  of  Gorham,  and  ti'aclng  its  growth,  till  it 
became,  what  it  now  is,  one  of  the  most  populous,  wealthy, 
and  important  inland  towns  in  Maine. 

I  have  thought  a  historical  memoir  of  the  place  Avould  be 
acceptable  to  its  present  inhabitants,  and  not  wholly  unin- 
teresting to  the  people  of  our  State  generally. 

"With  these  views,  I  have  compiled  the  following  pages, 
and  now  commit  them  to  the  public  eye. 

In  the  preparation  of  this  work,  I  have  been  much  as- 
sisted in  gathering  materials,  by  several  gentlemen.  M.  G. 
Hay  den,  Esq.,  Town  Clerk,  has  at  all  times  given  me  a  free 


15007S4 


IV.  PREFACE. 

use  of  all  the  Town  Kecords  in  his  possession.  I  have 
also  received  valuable  aid  from  Hon.  Frederic  Robie.  Es- 
pecially am  I  indebted  to  Col.  Hugh  D.  McLellan,  who  has 
kindly  furnished  me  with  many  historical  facts  and  tradi- 
tions, and  loaned  me  his  numerous  and  valuable  family 
manuscripts  and  traditional  papers,  from  which  I  have  gath- 
ered many  interesting  facts. 

J.  PIEECE. 
GoKHAM,  Januarv,  1862. 


G  O  R  H  A  M. 


CHAPTER    I . 


INTRODUCTORY. 


"Within  a  few  yeai-s  a  general  wish  has  prevailed,  to 
gather  up  and  preserve  the  facts  relating  to  the  settlement 
and  early  progress  of  our  town.  The  movement  is  credita- 
ble to  our  citizens,  and  we  regret  that  this  interest  had  not 
been  earlier  excited,  while  fuller  records,  and  the  actors 
themselves  in  these  proceedings  were  accessible. 

In  many  of  our  towns  all  the  early  settlers  have  passed 
away.  The  records  of  projirietors  and  plantations,  in  many 
instances,  been  lost  or  destroyed.  We  can  now  only  make 
the  best  use  we  can  of  the  materials  within  our  reach, — 
family  records,  grave-stone  inscriptions,  and  floating  and 
oftentimes  unreliable  traditions. 

The  sea  coast  and  islands  of  Maine  had  been  discovered 
more  than  a  hundred  years  by  Sebastian  Cabot,  before  any 
settlement  was  made  by  Europeans.  After  some  islands 
and  a  few  places  on  the  main  land  by  the  sea  side,  had  been 
occupied  by  Englishmen,  another  century  went  by  before 
permanent  settlements  were  effected  in  the  interior.  There 
were  several  causes  for  this  ;  the  principal  of  which  were, 
the  crrcater   facilitv  of  obtaining;  the  necessaries  of  liviii"; 


6  IlISTOliY    OF    GORIIAM. 

near  the  ocean,  and  the  greater  security  from  the  hostile 
attacks  of  the  Indians  and  Canadian  French.  Thus  Fal- 
mouth (now  Porthmd),  and  Scarborough,  Avere  settled  a 
full  liundred  years  before  the  adjoining  interior  town  of 
Gorham.  Falmouth  was  occupied  by  Englishmen  in  1632, 
and  Scarborough  as  early  as  1633.  The  first  settler  moved 
into  (iorham  in  1736. 

The  town  of  CJorham  embraces  an  area  of  somewhat  more 
than  six  miles  square.  Its  contents,  as  is  the  case  of  most 
of  the  early  located  towns  in  the  State,  exceeds  the  granted 
quantity.  The  surveyors  emjjloyed,  a  century  ago,  made 
liberal  allowances  for  waste  land  in  the  shape  of  ponds,  bogs 
and  mountains.  An  allowance  of  one  rod  in  thirty  for  swag 
of  chain,  was  also  a  general  practice  of  surveyors,  in  laying 
out  new  townships,  between  sixty  and  one  hundred  years 
ago  ;  and  such  allowances  were  sanctioned  by  government 
at  that  period.  Hence  most  of  the  toAvns  In  Maine,  that 
were  located  during  the  last  century,  are  found,  on  a  strict 
measurement,  to  contain  a  larger  surface,  than  are  indicated 
by  their  grants  or  charters. 

The  territory  of  tlie  town  of  Gorham  is  circumscribed  by 
an  irregular  figure  of  very  unequal  sides ;  its  longest  side 
is  that  on  Presumscot  river  ;  its  shortest,  the  dividing  line 
between  Gorham  and  Westbrook.  The  former  beins:  about 
eight,  the  latter  three  miles  in  length.  It  is  bounded 
easterly  by  Presumscot  river  which  divides  it  from  the  town 
of  Windham  ;  south-easterly  by  Westbrook  ;  southerly  by 
Scarborough  ;  south-westerly  and  westerly  by  Buxton  ;  and 
northerly  by  Standlsh. 

The  surface  of  the  town  is  what  Is  called  a  rolllno-  coun- 
try.  In  the  northerly  part  Is  a  plain  of  considerable  extent ; 
but  much  the  larger  part  of  Gorham  is  hilly.  The  hills  are 
unifonnly  of  gentle  and  even  ascent,  being  noAvhere  preci- 
pitous,  or  too   steep   for   cultivation.     Large   and    wlndln"- 


INTHODUCTOTJY.  7 

valleys  are  spread  out  1)ctween  the  savcIIs  of  land,  and  tlie 
Avliole  is  bountifully  watered  by  springs  and  streams  ;  in  a 
few  places  the  soil  is  sandy,  but  a  clayey  loam  is  the  jire- 
vailing  soil.  Fort  Ilill  is  the  highest  eminence,  and  from  its 
summit  can  be  seen  most  of  the  town  and  a  large  extent  of 
the  surrounding  country,  and  waters  of  the  ocean  ;  its  sides 
are  long  slopes,  easily  ascended  and  covered  with  excellent 
ftirms.  Tlie  town  is  not  rocky  :  the  northerly  part  contains 
some  granite,  and  limestone  is  found  in  some  places.  I'he 
prevailing  stone  is  argillaceous  slate,  laying  in  ledges.  It  is 
believed  tliat  there  is  not  so  much  as  two  acres  of  surface 
in  any  one  place  unfit  for  cultivation.  It  is,  without  doubt, 
one  of  the  best  agricultural  townships  in  Maine. 

Presumscot  river  washes  its  whole  eastern  boundary,  and 
affords,  by  its  numerous  falls,  many  eligible  water  privileges 
for  manufacturing  purposes. 

Stroudwater  river  traverses  the  southern  section  of  the 
town  ;  and  Little  river,  rising  in  Buxton,  within  two  miles 
of  the  Saco,  enters  Gorham  on  its  western  boundary  ;  and, 
after  flowing  in  a  very  winding  channel,  affording  many 
mill  sites,  and  forming  and  watering  many  fertile  intervales, 
it  falls  into  the  Presumscot  river  on  the  eastern  side  of  the 
town. 

Formerly  there  was  a  fine  groAvth  of  large  j^ine  trees  in 
the  township,  interspersed  with  ash,  birch,  beech,  maple, 
oak,  hemlock,  fir,  spruce,  elm  and  walnut  trees ;  the  more 
valuable  part  of  the  pine  has  long  since  been  cut  and  can-ied 
away.  This  town  seems  to  have  been  first  resorted  to  by 
white  men  for  lumbering  purposes  ;  they  came  first  for 
masts,  of  which  the  noble  pines  that  were  numerous  here 
afforded  a  large  supply.  After  saw  mills  were  erected  on 
Presumscot  and  Saccarappa  falls,  logs  for  l)oards,  Avhich 
were  easily  floated  down  Presumscot  river,  Avere  in  de- 
mand. 


8  HISTORY    OF    GOrJIAM. 

Gorham,  tliough  liaving  within  its  limits  places  bearing 
Indian  names,  was  never,  as  far  as  is  known,  the  residence 
of  any  particular  tribe  of  the  natives.  It  was  sometimes 
occupied  for  aAvhlle  as  the  camping  ground  of  roving  parties 
of  Indians,  from  the  Ossipee,  Pequawkct,  Androscoggin, 
and  Sokokis  or  Saco  tribes.  These  Avith  the  St.  Francois 
Indians  of  Canada,  with  whom  the  remnant  of  the  Pequaw- 
kets  united  after  their  signal  defeat  by  Lovell,  at  Fryeburg, 
in  1725,  Avould  make  this  town  their  summer  residence,  and 
planted  large  fields  of  corn  in  some  localities,  and  it  was 
their  o-reat  thorouo-lifare  from  Sebago  Lake  to  Saco  and 
Scarborough.  There  are  no  traditions  of  Indian  grants  or 
Indian  claims  of  land  in  Gorham. 

Several  families  from  Canada  resided  here  for  some  years 
for  the  sake  of  easy  access  to  the  trading  houses  of  the 
English  on  the  coast,  Avhere  they  could  barter  their  furs, 
baskets  and  various  trinkets,  for  such  articles  as  they  most 
needed. 

The  early  settlers  of  Gorham  were  greatly  harrassed  for 
several  years  by  the  Canada  Indians.  Crops  were  destroy- 
ed, cattle  killed,  a  few  white  persons  killed,  and  a  few 
carried  aAvay  captive  to  Canada.  These  annoyances  contin- 
ued till  the  French  power  passed  away  by  the  conquest  of 
Quebec  by  Wolfe  in  17G9.  That  victory  put  an  end  to  the 
Indian  depredations  in  this  part  of  Maine. 

The  wars  between  France  and  England  always  drew  into 
the  conflict  the  colonies  of  the  two  nations  in  North  Amer- 
ica. Hence  the  inhabitants  of  New-England  had  to  be  in  a 
state  of  warlike  preparation  at  all  times.  For  the  first 
century  after  the  settlement  of  Massachusetts,  her  men 
Avere  freqvicntly  engaged  in  military  expeditions  ;  sometimes 
against  the  French — sometimes  against  the  Indians — fre- 
quently against  both  combined.  The  colonies  were  poor, 
and  the  Lecrlslatures  of  the    same    had  slender   means  of 


INTRO  D  U  CTO 11 V.  9 

paying  the  expenses  of  the  military  or  remunerating  the 
soldiers  except  by  grants  of  wild  lands.  INIost  of  the  Pro- 
vincial grants  were  therefore  made  for  military  services. 
The  township  of  Gorham  was  granted  for  such  services. 
Seven  townships,  of  which  this  town  was  one,  were  granted 
to  the  officers  and  soldiers,  or  their  representatives,  who 
served  in  what  was  called  King  Philip's  war,  or  the  Narra- 
gansett  fight.  The  grant  was  made  by  the  General  Court 
of  Massachusetts  ;  first  of  two  townships  in  1728,  and  five 
more  in  1732.     The  number  of  grantees  was  840. 


10  HISTORY    OF    GORHAM. 


CHAPTER    II. 

THE   GKANTS. 

BY    THE    GOVERXOR   AXD     COMPANY    OF    THE    MASSACHU- 
SETTS   BAY,    IN   NEAV    ENGLAND. 

At  a   General  Court  for  Elections  held  at  Boston,  21th 
of  May,  1685. 

In  answer  to  the  petition  of  William  Bassett,  John  Lin- 
eey,  Robert  Porter,  Sen'r,  and  twenty-two  more  inhabitants 
of  Lyn,  Jeremiah  Swain,  Samuel  Damon,  Samuel  Lamb- 
son,  William  Robbins,  James  Pyke,  John  and  James  Nich- 
ols of  Reading,  Wm.  Raymond,  and  five  more  of  Beverly, 
and  Samuel  Lincoln,  and  three  more  of  Hingham,  as  on  the 
petition  on  file.  The  Court  judgeth  it  meet  to  grant  the  pe- 
titioners a  tract  of  land  in  Nipmug  country  of  eight  miles 
square  for  their  encouragement,  and  others  that  were  ser- 
viceable to  the  country  in  the  late  Indian  War,  to  a  compe- 
tent number  who  shall  see  meet  to  join  themselves  to  them, 
in  order  to  the  making  of  a  Plantation  or  Township,  provi- 
ded it  be  laid  out  as  not  to  interfere  with  any  former 
grants,  and  that  an  Orthodox  Minister,  on  their  settlement 
of  thirty  families,  be  settled  witlmi  the  space  of  four  years 
next  coming. 

A  true  copy  of  the  original  Records  of  the  General 
Court. 

Attest:  EDWARD  D.  BANGS, 

Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth. 


THE   GRANTS.  U 

Thursday,  December  14,  1727. 
On  the  petition  of  Samuel  Chandler,  Jacoh    Wright,  cfic, 
in  hehalf  of  themselves   and  others  praying,  as  entered 
July  1,  1727. 

In  the  House  of  Eepresentatives.  Resolved,  That 
Major  Thomas  Tilestone,  Capt.  John  Alden,  Mr.  Edward 
Shove,  Mr.  jSTathaniel  Healy,  of  Newton,  Mr.  Samuel  Chan- 
dler, of  Concord,  John  Wainwright  and  Ezra  Bourne, 
Esqs.,  (any  four  of  whom  to  be  a  Quorum)  be  a  Committee 
fully  authorized  and  empowered  to  survey  and  lay  out  two 
tracts  of  Lands  for  townships,  of  the  contents  of  six  miles 
square,  of  the  unappropriated  Lands  of  this  Province,  and 
that  the  said  lands  be  granted  and  disposed  of  to  the  per- 
sons, whether  officers  or  soldiers,  belonging  to  this  Province, 
who  were  in  the  service  of  their  country  in  the  said^Narra- 
gansett  War,  or  to  their  lawful  representatives,  as  a  reward 
for  their  public  services,  and  in  full  satisfaction  of  the  grant 
formerly  made  them  by  the  Great  and  General  Court,  and 
forasmuch  as  it  is  the  full  intent  and  purpose  of  this  Court, 
that  every  officer  and  soldier  who  served  in  said  War, 
should  have  a  compensation  made  them  over  and  above 
what  wages  and  gratuities  any  of  them  have  already  re- 
ceived ;  that  the  said  Committee  give  public  notice  in  the 
news-letters  or  otherwise,  six  months  at  least  before  the 
time  of  their  meeting,  where  and  when  they  intend  to 
meet,  so  that  every  officer  and  soldier  that  served  in  the 
said  War,  or  the  lawful  representative  of  such  as  served 
and  are  since  deceased,  may  have  an  opportunity  of  enlist- 
ing their  names  with  the  said  Committee,  who  are  hereby 
ordered  to  take  a  list  accordingly,  and  when  and  so  soon 
as  the  said  Committee  has  received  a  complete  list  of  the 
names  of  such  persons  as  have  served  as  aforesaid,  or  their 
legal  representatives  (which  they  are  enjoined  to  do  with 


12  HISTORY    OF    GORIIAM. 

all  convenient  speed)  the  Grantees  shall  be  obliged  to  as- 
semble within  as  short  a  time  as  they  can  conveniently,  and 
j^roceed  to  the  choice  of  a  Committee  to  regulate  each 
society,  who  shall  pass  such  orders  and  rules,  as  will  effec- 
tually oblige  them  to  settle  sixty  families  in  each  township, 
with  a  learned  Orthodox  Minister,  within  the  space  of  seven 
years  from  the  date  of  the  grant.  Provided^  nevertheless, 
that  if  the  said  Grantees  shall  not  effectually  settle  the  said 
number  of  families  in  each  township,  and  also  lay  out  a  lot 
for  the  first  settled  minister,  one  for  the  ministry,  and  one 
for  the  school  in  each  of  the  said  townships,  they  shall  take 
no  advantage,  but  forfeit  the  said  Grant,  any  thing  to  the 
contrary  contained  notwithstanding. 

In  Council,  read  and  concurred  with  the  amendments. 

A  true  coj)y  from  the  original  Records  of  the  General 
Court. 

Attest:  EDWARD  D.  BANGS, 

Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth. 


Saturday,  June  15,  1728. 

In  the  House  of  Representatives.  In  answer  to 
the  petition  of  the  soldiers  that  served  in  the  Narragansett 
War,  Resolved,  That  Major  Chandler,  Mr.  Edward  Shove, 
Major  Tilestone,  and  Mr.  John  Hobson,  (or  any  three  of 
them)  be  a  Committee  fully  authorized  and  empowered  to 
survey  and  lay  out  two  townships  of  the  contents  of  six 
miles  square  each,  in  some  of  the  unappropriated  lands  of 
this  Province ;  and  that  the  said  lands  be  granted  and  dis- 
posed of  to  the  persons,  whether  officers  or  soldiers,  belong- 
ing to  this  Province,  who  were  in  the  service  of  their 
country  in  the  said  Narragansett  War,  or  to  their  lawful 
representatives,  as  a  reward  for  their  public  services,  and  as 


THE    GllANTS.  13 

a  full  satisfaction  of  the  grant  formerly  made  them  by  the 
Great  and  General  Court,  and  inasnmch  as  it  is  the  full 
intent  and  purpose  that  every  officer  and  soldier  who  served 
in  the  said  war,  ^should  have  a  compensation  made  him 
over  and  above  what  wages  and  gratuities  any  of  them 
have  already  received.  That  public  notice  be  given  in  the 
news-letters,  andjadvertisements  posted  up  in  every  town  in 
the  Province,  notifying  all  persons  that  now  survive,  and 
were  in  that  fight,  and  the  legal  representatives  of  those 
deceased,  that  they  give  or  send  a  list  of  their  names  and 
descents  to  the  Court  in  their  next  Fall  Session ;  and  when 
such  list  is  completed  by  a  Committee  then  to  be  appointed 
by  this  Court,  the  Grantees  shall  be  obliged  to  assemble  in 
as  short  a  time  as  they  can  conveniently,  not  exceeding  six 
months,  and  proceed  to  the  choice  of  a  Committee  to  regu- 
late each  Propriety,  who  shall  pass  such  Orders  and  Rules 
as  will  effectually  oblige  them  to  settle  sixty  families  at  least, 
in  each  township,  with  a  learned  Orthodox  Minister,  within 
the  space  of  seven  years  from  the  date  of  the  grant,  Provi- 
ded, nevertheless,  if  the  said  Grantees  shall  not<  effectually 
settle  the  said  number  of  families  in  each  township,  and  also 
lay  out  a  Lot  for  the  said  settled  Minister,  one  for  the  Min- 
istry, and  one  for  the  School,  in  each  of  the  said  townships, 
they  shall  have  no  advantage,  but  forfeit  their  said  grants, 
any  thing  to  the  contrary  herein  contained  notwithstanding. 

In  Council,  read  and  concurred. 

Consented  to. 

W.  DUMMER. 

A  true  copy  from  the  original  Records  of  the  General 
Court. 

Attest:  EDWARD  D.  BANGS, 

Secretary  of  the  Commomvealth. 


14  HISTORY    OF    GORHAM. 

Friday,  June  9,  1732. 
A  petition  of  Thomas  Tilestone  and  others,  a  Committee 
in  behalf  of  the  Officers  and  Sokliers  in  the  !Narragansett 
War,  praying  the  revival  of  a  vote  passed  by  both  houses 
on  their  former  petition,  given  in  at  the  last  Winter  Session, 
for  enlarging  the  grant  of  Land  formerly  made  to  them  in 
consideration  of  their  great  services  to  this  Province  in  the 
said  war. 

In  the  House  of  Eepresentatives.  Read,  and  in 
answer  to  this  Petition,  Ordered,  That  such  further  grant 
be  made  the  Petitioners,  as  that  every  one  hundred  and 
twenty  persons,  whose  claims  have  been,  or  shall  be  allowed 
of  by  this  Court  within  four  months  of  this  time,  may  have 
a  township  of  the  contents  of  six  miles  square,  under  the 
same  restrictions  and  limitations  with  these  towns  already 
granted,  and  that  the  Committee  formerly  appointed  to 
lay  out  the  Towns  of  the  Narragansett  Soldiers,  be  a  Com- 
mittee to  lay  out  the  land  above  granted,  and  the  Province 
be  at  the  charge  of  laying  out  the  same,  but  not  of  any 
subdivisions  to  any  particular  persons. 

In  Council,  read  and  concurred. 
Consented  to. 

A  true  copy  from  the  original  Records  of  the  General 
Court. 

Attest:     .  EDWARD  D.  BANGS, 

Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth. 


Thursday,  April  26,  1733. 

A  Petition  of  a  Committee  for  the  Narragansett  Soldiers, 
shewing  that  there   are   the  number  of  eight  hundred  and 


THE    GRANTS.  15 

forty  persons  entered  as  Officers  and  Soldiers  in  the  late 
Narragansett  War,  praying  that  there  may  be  such  an  ad- 
dition of  Land  granted  to  them  as  may  allow  a  tract  of  six 
miles  square  to  each  one  hundred  and  twenty-seven  men  so 
admitted. 

In  the  House  of  Eepkesentatives.  Read,  and  Or- 
dered, That  the  prayer  of  the  Petition  be  granted,  and  that 
Major  Chandler,  Mr.  Edward  Shove,  Col.  Thomas  Tiles- 
tone,  Mr.  John  Hobson,  and  Mr.  Samuel  Chandler,  (or  any 
three  of  them)  be  a  Committee  fully  authorized  and  cm- 
powered  to  survey  and  lay  out  five  more  tracts  of  land  for 
townships,  of  the  contents  of  six  miles*square  each,  in  some 
of  the  unappropriated  lands  of  this  Province,  and  the  said 
lands  (together  with  the  two  towns  before  granted)  be 
granted  and  disposed  of  to  the  officers  and  soldiers  who 
were  in  the  Narragansett  War,  or  to  their  lawful  representa- 
tives, as  they  are  or  have  been  alloAved  by  this  Court,  being 
eight  hundred  and  forty  in  number  in  the  whole,  and  is  in 
full  satisfaction  of  the  Grant  formerly  made  them  by  the 
General  Court,  as  a  reward  for  their  public  services,  and 
the  Grantees  shall  be  obliged  to  assemble  within  as  short 
time  as  they  can  conveniently,  not  exceeding  the  space 
of  two  months,  and  proceed  to  the  choice  of  Committees 
respectively  to  regulate  each  Proprietary  or  Township, 
which  is  to  be  held  and  enjoyed  by  one  hundred  and  twenty 
of  the  Grantees,  each  in  equal  proportion,  Avho  shall  pass 
such  Orders  and  Rules  as  shall  effectually  oblige  them  to 
settle  sixty  families  within  each  township,  Avith  a  learned 
Orthodox  Minister,  within  the  space  of  seven  years  from  the 
date  of  this  grant.  Provided,  always,  that  if  the  said  Gran- 
tees shall  not  effectually  settle  the  said  number  of  families 
in  each  township,  and  also  lay  out  a  lot  for  the  first  settled 
Minister,  one  for  the  Ministrv,  and  one  for  the  School  in 


IG  HISTORY    OF    GORHAM. 

each  of  the  said  townships,  they  shall  have  no  advantage 
of,  but  forfeit  their  respective  grants,  any  thing  to  the  con- 
trary contained  notwithstanding ;  the  charge  of  the  survey 
to  be  paid  by  the  Province. 

In  Council,  read  and  concurred. 

Consented  to. 

J.  BELCHER. 

A  true  copy  from  the  original  Records  of  the  General 
Court. 

Attest:  EDWARD  D.  BANGS, 

Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth. 


Wednesday,  February  2,  1736. 
In  Council,  Voted,  That  Shubael  Goreham,  Esquire,  be 
empowered  and  directed  to  assemble  the  Grantees  of  the 
township  granted  to  the  Soldiers  under  the  command  of 
Capt.  John  Goreham,  in  the  Canada  expedition  in  1690,  in 
such  place,  and  on  such  time  as  he  shall  think  fit,  then  to 
choose  a  Moderator  and  Proprietors'  Clerk,  to  agree  upon 
Rules,  Methods,  and  Orders,  for  the  division  and  disposal  of 
the  said  Propriety,  in  the  most  proper  method  for  the 
speedy  fulfilment  of  the  conditions  of  their  grant,  and  agree 
upon  methods  for  calling  future  meetings. 

In  the  House  of  Representatives,  read   and   con- 
curred. 

-Consented  to. 

J.  BELCHER. 

A  true  copy  from  the  original  Records  of  the  General 
Court. 

Attest:  EDWARD  D.  BANGS, 

Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth. 


THE   GRANTS-  17 

Monday,  July  5,  1736. 
In  the  House  of  Eepresentatives.  Ordered,  That 
Shubael  Goreliam,  Esq.,  be,  and  hereby  is,  fully  authorized 
and  empowered  to  assemble  and  convene,  in  some  suitable 
place,  and,  as  soon  as  may  be,  the  Grantees  of  the  Narra- 
gansett  town,  Number  Seven,  adjoining  to  Falmouth  and 
Presumpsutt  Eiver,  in  the  County  of  York,  made  to  the 
Narragansett  officers  and  soldiers  in  the  company  under  the 
command  of  the  late  Capt.  John  Goreham,  deceased,  and  in 
answer  to  the  petition  of  the  said  Shubael  Goreham,  Esq., 
that  the  said  Grantees  in  such  time  and  place,  make  choice 
of  a  Proprietors'  Clerk,  and  jiass  such  Rules  and  Orders  as 
may  be  agreeable  to  the  conditions  of  the  Grant,  for  bring- 
ing forward  the  settlement  of  the  township,  and  also  to 
agree  on  some  regular  method  how  to  caU.  Proprietors' 
meetings  for  the  future. 

In  Council.     Read  and  concurred. 

Consented  to. 

J.  BELCHER. 

A  true  copy  from  the  original  Records  of  the  General 
Court. 

Attest:  EDWARD  D.  BANGS, 

Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth. 


Durino;  the  administration  of  Governors  Dummcr  and 
Burnet,  the  government  of  Massachusetts  had  been  sparing 
of  the  public  domain.  People  were  cautious  of  settling  at 
any  considerable  distance  from  the  coast,  while  Indian  wars 
were  raging  or  impending.  About  1727,  the  government 
began  to  favor  the  settlement  of  new  townships,  and  the 
3 


18  HISTORY    OF   GORHAM. 

Governor  recommended  surveys  and  appropriations  of  land 
for  settlers.  The  first  grants  were  Tor  military  services. 
By  making  these  grants  the  government  effected  two  desir- 
able objects.  They  paid  the  claims  of  meritorious  officers 
and  soldiers,  by  lands,  which  they  could  more  easily  do  than 
make  remuneration  with  money  ;  and  secondly,  they  gave 
strength  and  security  to  the  jDrovince  by  settling  new  towns 
with  hardy,  industrious  and  virtuous  citizens. 

The  grantees  of  the  town  of  Gorham  were  a  portion  of 
the  840  Massachusetts,  men  and  their  heirs,  who  bore  arms 
in  the  Narragansett  Expedition,  as  it  was  called,  in  1675. 

As  the  grant  of  the  town  of  Gorham  grew  out  of  the 
Narrao-ansett  war,  and  as  several  of  the  lineal  descendants 
of  those  heroic  men  who  fought  in  that  terrible  conflict,  still 
reside  in  this  town,  they  cannot  be  supposed  to  be  indiffer- 
ent to  the  history  of  those  exertions  which  secured  safety  to 
their  families  and  peace  and  plenty  to  their  posterity.  It 
may  not,  therefore,  be  amiss  in  tracing  the  history  of  our 
town  to  go  back  and  speak  of  those  events  that  gave  rise  to 
its  settlement. 


THE    NARRAGANSETT    WAR.  19 


CHAPTER    III. 

THE    NARRAGANSETT    WAR. 

The  Narragansett  war,  or  as  it  was  sometimes  called, 
King  Philip's  war,  he  being  the  chief  instigator  and  most 
formidable  leader,  broke  out  in  1675.  By  some  writers  it  is 
denominated  Paconoket  war.  Massasoit,  a  good  friend  to 
the  Plymouth  settlers,  had  two  sons  named  AYamsucket  and 
Metacomet.  On  their  own  request,  the  government  of 
Plymouth  gave  them  the  English  names  of  Alexander  and 
Philip.  Alexander  died  in  1662.  Metacomet,  or  Philip, 
was  chief  of  the  Wampanoags,  of  which  Paconoket  was  a 
branch  or  tribe. 

Philip  was  an  Indian  of  more  than  ordinary  abilities  ;  a 
man  of  sagacity,  cunning,  and  unfaltering  courage.  He 
formed  a  deep  laid  scheme  to  extirpate  the  English  from 
New  England.  To  exterminate  all  the  whites,  and  by  one 
blow,  forever  rid  his  country  of  her  invaders.  This  was 
the  avowed  object  of  Philip.  Long  and  profoundly  did  he 
meditate  on  his  project ;  he  spared  no  toil,  fainted  under  no 
labor  or  privations.  He  visited  numerous  tribes,  and  by 
his  arguments  and  eloquence,  breathed  something  of  his 
own  dauntless  spirit  into  their  ferocious  warriors.  With 
great  secrecy  he  effected  an  extensive  confederacy,  and 
united  in  his  enterprise  the  Pocassets,  Xarragansetts,  Nip- 
mugs,  Connecticut  River  Indians,  and  numerous  tribes  of 
the  Abenaquis,  or  Eastern  Indians.  The  Pennicooks  of 
New  Hampshire  ;  the  Ossipees,  the  Pequawkets,  the  Amer- 


20  HISTORY   OF   GORHAM. 

iscoggins,  the  Norrldgewocks,  and  some  of  the  Canada 
tribes  entered  into  his  scheme.  War  became  inevitable,  and 
it  commenced  as  most  Indian  wars  have,  by  a  small  party, 
who  made  a  night  attack  on  the  people  of  Swansey,  a  thinly 
settled  town  adjoining  Mount  Hope,  Philip's  headquarters, 
now  in  the  town  of  Bristol,  Ehode  Island.  Nine  English- 
men were  killed. 

This  occurred  June  24,  1675.  Other  tribes  immediately 
commenced  hostilities.  The  Nipmugs  assaulted  several 
towns.  In  August,  the  Eastern  Indians,  on  Saco  and  An- 
droscoggin rivers  commenced  their  murders,  and  by  Decem- 
ber they  had  killed  about  fifty  English  in  Maine.  Towards 
Avinter  Philip  and  his  chief  warriors  returned  to  the  Narra- 
gansett  country. 

Though  Philip  had  succeeded  in  persuading  many  tribes 
to  eno;ao;e  in  his  scheme  of  exterminatino;  the  English  in 
America,  he  could  not  combine  their  forces  so  as  to  act  in 
unison.  Neither  Indian  kings  nor  Indian  councils,  could 
collect  and  keep  together,  for  a  long  period,  any  considera- 
ble body  of  warriors.  Their  braves  had  no  pay  except  the 
spoils  or  plunder  of  their  enemies.  They  made  no  provision 
for  the  clothing  or  subsistence  of  their  soldiers.  Their  wars 
were  a  series  of  skirmishes.  The  Indians  are  ramblers  ; 
their  mode  of  fighting  was  to  suddenly  and  furiously  attack 
an  unprotected  place,  in  small,  skulking  j)arties,  who  made 
their  assaults  in  the  darkness  of  night,  or  from  an  ambus- 
cade ;  rush  suddenly  on  their  victims  with  yells  and  shout- 
ings, committing  enormous  cruelties  and  rapid  devastation. 
These  violent  assaults  soon  ceased,  and  the  savages  retired 
to  celebrate  their  victory  and  enjoy  their  plunder,  and  then 
plan  for  another  attack  in  some  other  quarter. 

The  Narragansetts,  though  pretending  to  be  neutral, 
were  known  to  be  friendly  to  Philip  and  afforded  him  assist- 
ance. 


THE   NARRAGANSETT   WAR.  21 

Surrounded,  as  tlie  colonists  of  Plymouth  and  Massachu- 
setts were,  by  pretended  friends  and  implacable  enemies, 
they  perceived  the  necessity  of  uniting  their  strength  with 
that  of  Connecticut,  in  order  successfully  to  resist  their  un- 
relenting foes. 

At  that  period,  (1675)  the  whole  white  population  of 
New  England  did  not  probably  exceed  sixty  thousand  souls. 
And  every  able  bodied  man,  capable  of  bearing  arms,  was 
commanded  to  hold  himself  in  readiness  to  march  at  the 
shortest  notice.  The  three  States  determined  to  attack  and 
vanquish  the  Narragansetts,  the  most  numerous  and  power- 
ful of  the  Indian  tribes.  Rhode  Island,  though  in  the  im- 
mediate neighborhood,  does  not  appear  to  have  furnished 
any  troops.  Massachusetts  raised  six  companies  of  soldiers  ; 
Connecticut  five  ;  and  Plymouth  two.  The  Plymouth  com- 
panies were  commanded  by  Captains  Pice  and  Gorham. 
The  Massachusetts  and  Plymouth  forces  were  commanded 
by  Gov.  Winslow  of  Plymouth.  The  whole  number  of 
men  composing  the  English  army,  was  designed  to  be  1500  ; 
but  the  whole  Avhite  army,  actually  mustered  but  1127  men. 

The  Narragansett  battle  was  one  of  the  most  memorable 
ever  fought  with  savages.  The  hardship  and  sufferings  of 
that  fight  have  scarcely  a  jsarallel.  The  battle  was  fought 
on  the  10th  of  Dec,  (old  style,  Dec.  21st,  new  style,)  1675, 
the  shortest  day  of  the  year.  The  day  previous  was  ex- 
tremely cold.  Four  hundred  of  the  men,  (more  than  one 
third  of  the  whole  of  the  effective  force,)  were  so  frozen  as 
to  be  completely  unfit  for  duty.  The  snow  fell  fast  and  deep  ; 
the  soldiers  marched  all  the  preceding  night  through  a  tan- 
gled and  pathless  wood ;  they  waded  through  the  snow  till 
an  hour  after  noon,  and  then  reached  the  swamp  in  which 
the  Indians  had  collected,  and  formed  their  wooden  fortress. 
Tlie  battle  commenced  immediately,  and  lasted  six  dread- 
ful hours.     The  entrance  to  the  fort  was  narroAV,  and  j)roved 


22  HISTORT    OF    GORHAM. 

the  gate  of  death  to  many  of  our  men.  Never  was  there 
a  greater  exhibition  of  personal  courage.  "  Victory  was 
with  the  white  men"  ;  but  it  was  by  no  means  a  blood- 
less one  on  the  part  of  our  fathers.  Six  brave  Captains 
fell  on  that  day !  "  Davenport,  Gallop,  Gardner,  Johnson, 
Marshall,  and  Sieley,  led  their  companies  through  the  nar- 
row entrance  in  the  face  of  death,  and  left  their  lives  as 
a  testimony  of  their  patriotism  and  courage  !"  Of  Capt. 
Gorham's  company  thirty  were  killed  and  forty-one  wound- 
ed. More  than  700  Indian  warriors  were  killed  ;  besides 
many  women  and  children  were  slain  by  the  assailants,  or 
were  destroyed  by  flames  and  suffocation  in  the  burning  fort 
and  wigwams — not  more  than  200  or  300  Indians  escaped. 
This  fortress  was  in  a  swamp,  called  Pattysquamscut. 

"  Thus,"  says  Bancroft,  "  were  swept  away,  the  humble 
glories  of  the  Narragansetts  I  The  winter  stores  of  the 
tribe,  their  curiously  wrought  baskets  full  of  corn,  their 
famous  strings  of  wampum,  their  wigwams  nicely  warmed 
with  mats  ;  all  the  Httle  comforts  of  savage  life  were  con- 
sumed ;  and  more,  their  old  men,  their  women,  their  babes, 
perished  by  hundreds  in  the  fire." 

The  victory  was  complete.  The  power  of  the  Narragan- 
setts forever  broken !  The  Indians  abandoned  every  hope, 
but  their  feelino-s  of  hatred  and  reveno-e  were  not  abated 
or  softened.  Homeless  and  houseless,  they  sought  to  de- 
stroy the  houses  and  homes  of  the  white  men !  Without 
shelter  and  without  food,  they  hid  in  swamps,  or  plundered 
exposed  dwellings.  Town  after  town  in  Massachusetts, 
Connecticut  and  Rhode  Island,  felt  their  vengeance  and 
were  destroyed.  Men,  women,  and  children  barbarously 
murdered,  or  led  into  terrible  captivity.  Within  a  year 
from  the  Narragansett  fight,  the  dauntless  Philip  was  killed 
by  a  faithless  Indian,  his  wife  and  only  son  made  prisoners  ; 
and  that  son,  the  innocent  young  Prince  of  the  Paconokets, 


THE   NARRAGANSETT    WAR.  23 

was  sold  for  a  slave  in  the  Island  of  Bermuda.     During 
Philip's  war  about  three  thousand  Indians  were  slain. 

After  the  battle,  which  ended  in  the  evening,  our  shatter- 
ed army  left  the  ground  in  haste,  and  in  another  dismal 
and  boisterous  night,  were  obliged  to  wade  eighteen  miles 
through  deep  snoAv  before  the  wounded  could  be  dressed,  or 
any  one  receive  refreshment. 

The  place  where  this  memorable  battle  was  fought,  was 
on  an  area  of  about  five  acres,  on  an  island  in  a  very  large 
swamp,  in  South  Kingston,  Rhode  Island. 

The  death  of  Philip,  and  the  overthrow  of  the  Narragan- 
setts  forever  broke  the  power  of  the  Indians  in  Massachu- 
setts. Her  soldiers  had  suffered  terribly  by  these  savage 
wars.  They  had  now  conquered  their  implacable  foes,  and 
achieved  a  great  and  enduring  benefit  for  their  country. 
Massachusetts  was  poor,  and  could  pay  her  meritorious 
officers  and  soldiers  but  small  wages.  The  days  of  pensions 
had  not  yet  arrived  in  Kew  England  ;  the  Colony  had  no 
means  of  remunerating  her  warriors  except  by  grants  of 
unimproved  public  lands  ;  she  therefore  resorted  to  that 
mode  of  compensation. 

The  officers  and  soldiers,  who  survived  the  sanguinary 
conflict  with  the  Narragansetts,  petitioned  the  colonial  leg- 
islature for  a  gi^ant  of  land.*  The  first  petition,  I  find,  was 
that  of  William  Bassett  and  others.  On  this  petition  the 
General  Court  made  a  grant  of  "  a  tract  of  land  in  the 
Nipmug  country,  of  eight  miles  square,"  on  certain  condi- 
tions to  be  fulfilled  by  the  grantees.  The  Nipmug  country 
was  in  Massachusetts,  in  the  County  of  Worcester.  This 
grant  was  made  in  May,  1685,  within  ten  years  of  the 
Narragansett  war.  I  cannot  find  that  this  eight  mile  square 
grant  was  ever  located. 

*  See  copies  of  the  Grants,  ante. 


24  HISTORY   OF   GORnAM. 

Whether  the  political  troubles  in  the  Province,  at  that 
period,  or  the  dissatisfaction  of  the  grantees  at  the  small- 
ness  of  the  grant,  occasioned  the  failure,  I  know  not ;  but 
I  cannot  find  that  any  thing  farther  was  done  under  that 
grant. 

The  next  movement  of  the  Narragansett  soldiers,  of 
which  I  find  any  account,  is  a  petition  entered  before  the 
Governor  and  Council,  dated  July  1st,  1727.  This  peti- 
tion was  signed  by  Samuel  Chandler  and  Jacob  Wright,  in 
behalf  of  themselves  and  others. 

In  response  to  this  petition,  the  General  Court,  by  a  Re- 
solve, empowered  a  Committee,  by  them  appointed,  to  sur- 
vey and  lay  out  two  tracts  of  land,  of  the  contents  of  six 
miles  square,  of  unappropriated  lands  of  the  Province,  to 
the  persons  who  were  in  the  service  of  their  country  in 
the  Narragansett  war,  or  to  their  legal  representatives. 
(See  Grant  or  Resolve,  page  11.)  This  Resolve  was  passed 
Dec.  14,  1727. 

June  15,  1728,  a  Resolve  was  passed  in  answer  to  the 
petition  of  the  soldiers  that  served  in  the  Narragansett  war, 
empowering  Major  Chandler,  Mr.  Edward  Shove,  Major 
Tilestone,  and  Mr.  John  Hobson,  or  any  three  of  them,  to 
survey  and  lay  out  two  townships,  of  the  contents  of  six 
miles  square,  in  satisfaction  of  the  grants  formerly  made 
the  Narragansett  soldiers.  (See  Resolve,  page  12.)  A  pe- 
tition for  enlarging  the  grant  was  presented  to  the  General 
Court  in  1731-32.  June  8,  1732,  an  order  was  made  that 
every  120  persons,  whose  claims  were,  or  might  be  al- 
lowed within  four  months,  may  have  a  township  of  six 
miles  square.  And  such  a  grant  was  made  by  the  Gen- 
eral Court,  April  26,  1733.  This  grant  was  passed,  and 
consented  to  by  Governor  Jonathan  Belcher,  April  26, 
1733.    . 

It  was  found  that  810  men,  belonging  to  Massachusetts, 


THE    NARRAGANSETT    WAR.  25 

carried  arms  in  the  Narragansett  war.  For  these  men, 
and  their  heirs,  the  Legislature  of  that  Province  granted 
seven  townships  ;  two  in  1728,  and  five  more  in  1732. 
These  seven  townships  were  granted  on  the  terms  then  gen- 
erally imposed,  viz  : — The  grantees  were  to  meet  within 
two  months,  and  organize  each  propriety,  to  consist  of  120 
persons  ;  to  settle  sixty  families  in  each  new  town  in  seven 
years  ;  to  settle  a  Jeanied  Orthodox  minister ;  to  erect  a 
meeting  house  ;  to  clear  a  certain  number  of  acres  of  land ; 
and  to  reserve  a  certain  proportion  of  the  township  for  the 
support  of  schools,  the  ministry,  and  the  first  settled  minis- 
ter. The  grantees  were  required  to  meet  and  choose  com- 
mittees to  superintend  their  general  concerns  and  determine 
the  rights  of  the  claimants.  In  accordance  with  these  require- 
ments, the  ijrantees  held  a  mectins:  on  Boston  Common,  on 
the  sixth  day  of  June,  1733,  at  2  o'clock,  P.  M.,  and  formed 
themselves  into  seven  distinct  societies,  of  120  names  each, 
which  should  be  entitled  to  one  of  the  Narragansett  town- 
ships. Three  persons  were  chosen  from  each  society,  to 
make  out  a  list  of  the  grantees,  and  to  assign  the  townships 
to  each  company,  and  to  assemble  the  grantees  of  the  re- 
spective societies  to  elect  officers  and  manage  their  afiiiirs. 
At  this  meeting  it  was  voted,  that  one  of  the  societies,  con- 
sisting of  120  persons,  should  consist  mostly  of  proprietors 
belonging  to  the  towns  of  Barnstable,  Yarmouth,  Eastham, 
Sandwich,  Plymouth,  Tisbury,  Abington,  Duxbury,  and 
one  from  Scituate.  To  this  society,  headed  by  the  name  of 
Capt.  John  Gorham,  was  assigned  township  denominated 
Narragansett,  No.  7,  which  is  now  the  town  of  Gorham.* 
The  seven  committees  (twenty-one  men)  met  at  Luke 
Verdey's,  in  Boston,  October  17,  1733,  and  assigned  the 
several  townships  as  follows,  viz  : — 

*For  a  list  of  the  names  of  the  Proprietors  of  Narragansctt,  No.  7,  see 
appendix. 

4 


26  HISTORY    OF    GORHAM. 

Narragansett,  No.  1,  on  Saco  River,  now  Buxton,  Me. 

Narragansett,  No.  2,  at  Wachuset,  adjoining  Rutland, 
Mass. 

Narragansett,  No.  3,  on  Souhegan  River,  now  Amherst, 
N.  H. 

Narragansett  No.  4,  at  Amoskeag,  N.  H. 

Narragansett,  No.  5,  on  Merrimac  River,  now  Merrimac 
and  Bedford,  N.  H. 

Narragansett,  No.  6,  called  Southtown,  now  Templeton, 
Mass. 

Narragansett,  No.  7,  on  Presumscot  River,  now  Gorham, 
Me. 

The  committee  for  the  township  of  Narragansett,  No.  T, 
were  Col.  Shubael  Gorham,  Timothy  White,  and  Robert 
Standfort.  At  that  meeting,  Deacon  Jonathan  WilHams, 
of  Boston,  was  chosen  Treasurer  of  the  whole  Narragansett 
Society  or  Grantees.  At  that  time,  1733,  but  few  of  the 
persons  actually  engaged  in  the  Narragansett  battle,  were 
livino;.  The  Q-rant  was  made  to  the  officers  and  soldiers  of 
that  war,  or  some  one  representative  of  some  officer  or 
soldier.  "  The  true  intent  and  meaning  of  the  grant  was, 
that  the  persons  only,  who  were  in  that  war,  should  be  en- 
titled to  share  in  the  grant." 

And  if  such  officer  or  soldier  was  deceased,  then  his  legal 
representatives  were  entitled  to  the  benefit ;  and  when  there 
were  diverse  descendants  of  a  person  who  had  a  right,  they 
should  agree  and  consent  it  should  belong  to  one  only,  viz  : 
to  the  oldest  heir  male,  if  such  there  be,  otherwise  the  old- 
est heir  female,  (if  they  please)  shall  hold  the  land,  paying 
to  the  other  heirs,  or  descendants,  such  ^proportional  part  of 
XIO,  which  was  the  supposed  value  of  a  right,  viz :  the 
120  th  part  of  the  township,  as  such  descendants  or  heirs 
would  be  entitled  to,  if  such  lands  descended  accordinof  to 
the  law  of  the  Province,  for  the  settlement  of  intestate 
estates. 


THE    NARRAGANSETT    WAR.  27 

This  order  was  passed  April  18,  1733.  It  was  reported 
to  the  General  Court  by  Thomas  Palmer,  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  of  both  Houses,  on  the  affairs  of  settlino-  the 
towns  granted  to  the  Narragansett  soldiers,  and  consented 
to  by  Gov.  Belcher. 

By  the  same  Committee  it  was  farther  reported,  and  it 
was  ordered,  that  the  seven  years  for  settling  said  toAvnships 
be  computed  from  the  first  day  of  January  1734,  to  end 
January  1,  1741. 

A  small  grant  of  land,  in  what  is  now  Gorham,  had  been 
previously  made  by  the  Provincial  Legislature  of  Massachu- 
setts, to  one  Joseph  Mallison  of  Boston.  The  grant  was  for 
two  hundred  acres  of  land.  Why  the  grant  was  made, 
does  not  ajjpear ;  probably,  on  condition  of  erecting  mills  at 
what  are  now  called  Horsebeef  Falls,  on  Presumscot  River. 
For  many  years  the  Falls  bore  the  name  of  Mallison's  Falls, 
and  they  are  so  called  in  the  Proprietors'  Records.  The 
General  Court  ordered  a  survey  and  plan  to  be  made  of  this 
grant.  Phineas  Jones  was  the  surveyor,  and  Nathaniel 
Knight  and  Samuel  Libby  carried  the  chain.  A  plan  was 
returned  to  the  Legislature,  and  the  grant  Avas  then  con- 
firmed to  Mallison.  The  tract  is  described  as  "  two  hundred 
acres  in  the  County  of  York,  by  Presumscot  River,  forty- 
five  rods  above  the  upper  part  of  the  Fourth  Great  Falls 
from  the  mouth  of  Presumscot  River,  about  five  miles  above 
the  Great  Fall  at  Saccarappa."  This,  I  suppose,  was  the 
first  surveying  of  land  in  Gorham.  Joseph  Mallison  con- 
veyed this  two  hundred  acres,  March  16,  1733,  to  Gen- 
eral Samuel  Waldo,  of  Boston,  for  .£50  in  bills  of  credit. 
Neither  Mallison  or  Waldo  erected  mills  on  this  grant. 
General  Waldo  seems  to  have  wished  to  acquire  as  much 
of  the  water  power  in  this  region  as  possible  ;  he  owned 
Capisic  mill  privilege,  most  of  Presumscot  Lower  Falls,  all 
at  Congen,  and  nearly  all  of  Saccarappa  Falls. 


28  HISTORY    OF    GORHAM. 

A  few  years  later  the  proprietors  of  this  township  made 
a  grant  of  four  hundred  acres  near  Little  Falls,  where  Fac- 
tory village  now  is  ;  it  was  on  Presumscot  River,  adjoining 
to,  and  above  Mallison's  grant.  The  area  was  a  parallelo- 
gram, one  hundred  and  sixty  rods  on  the  river ;  its  lower 
side  was  five  hundred  and  eight  rods,  its  upper  side  three 
hundred  and  one  rods  fi'om  the  river. 

This  grant  was  made  to  Governor  Shirley,  in  these 
words  : — "  Voted  and  granted  to  His  Excellency  William 
Shirley,  Esq.,  Governor  of  the  Province  of  Massachusetts 
Bay,  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  four  hundred  acres  of 
the  common  and  undivided  lands  within  said  township." 
"  Voted,  That  Moses  Pearson,  Jno.  Gorham,  Esq.,  and 
Joshua  Bangs  be  a  committee  to  lay  out  the  same,  pursuant 
to  said  grant." 

The  Committee  made  their  report  December  20,  1743,  in 
the  following  words  : — 

"  We,  the  subscribers,  having  been  chosen  by  the  pro- 
prietors of  Gorhamtown,  as  a  Committee  to  lay  out  four 
hundred  acres  of  land,  voted  and  granted  to  His  Excel- 
lency, William  Shirley,  Esq.,  have,  agreeable  to  their  vote, 
laid  out  the  same  as  within  described. 

Signed, 

JOHN  GORHAM, 

MOSES  PEARSON,  }    -^^^i^^^f^^rs' 

JOSHUA  BANGS, 


Committee.'' 


The  description  of  the  plan  was : — 

"December  20,  1743. 

Within  these  bounds  is  contained  four  hundred  acres  of 
upland,  lying  on  Presumscot  River,  and  adjoining  to  the 
land  granted  by  the  Great  and  General  Court  to  Mr.  Joseph 
Mallison,  as  described  in  this  plan,  which  I,  the  subscriber. 


THE   NARRAGANSETT   WAR.  29 

have  surveyed,  by  the  desire  of  the  Committee  of  Gorham- 
town,  so  called,  appointed  by  the  Proprietors  of  said  town, 
to  lay  out  said  premises  to  His  Excellency,  William  Shirley, 
Esq. 

WILLIAM  POTE,  Jr.,  Surveyor:' 

This  grant,  I  suppose,  was  made  on  account  of  some  ser- 
vice Gov.  Shirley  may  have  rendered  the  Proprietors  about 
their  township  ;  or  it  may  have  been  to  gain  the  counte- 
nance and  good  will  of  the  Governor.  Similar  grants  were 
made  in  other  townships  to  His  Excellency,  who  was  always 
alive  to  his  own  pecuniary  interests. 

A  shrewd  historical  writer  says  : — "  Shirley  was  an  en- 
terprising man,  and  having  mounted,  (no  matter  by  what 
means,)  to  the  Governor's  chair,  he  saw  in  a  young  and 
growing  country,  vast  prospects  opening  before  his  eyes, 
and  he  conceived  great  designs  of  aggrandizing  himself, 
his  family,  and  his  friends." 


30  HISTOEY    OF    GORHAM. 


CHAPTEE    IV. 

SUKVET  AND  LOTTING  OF  THE  TO"\\T^SHIPS,  —  FIKST 
SETTLEMENT. 

The  townsliip  having  been  thus  granted  and  assigned, 
the  grantees  took  measures  to  bring  forward  the  settlement 
of  their  lands.  It  was  determined  to  make  a  survey  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  lots  of  thirty  acres  each,  for  the  first 
division,  to  be  followed  by  two  other  divisions,  viz  :  the 
second  division  of  one  hundred  acre  lots  ;  and  the  third 
division  of  seventy  acre  lots.  In  all,  two  hundred  acres  for 
each  proprietor.  Each  right  was  to  have  one  lot  in  all  the 
divisions.  The  first  division  of  thirty  acre  lots,  was  made 
as  compactly  as  could  well  be  done,  on  the  pro]30sed  two 
roads,  crossing  each  other  at  right  angles.  These  lots  were 
made  small,  that  the  settlers  might  live  near  each  other,  for 
the  purpose  of  mutual  aid  and  defence  against  savages. 
The  external  lines  of  the  town  were  run  and  marked  in 
1734.  The  thirty  acre  lots  were  surveyed,  located,  num- 
bered, draAvn  and  confirmed  to  each  right  in  1735.  Sever- 
al roads  were  located  the  same  year.  A  few  lots,  or  rights 
of  land  were  sold  prior  to  their  location  or  numbering. 
The  first  Deed  I  find  on  record,  in  York  County  Registry, 
is  that  of  Thomas  Thornton  of  Dorchester,  Massachusetts, 
to  Col.  Shubael  Gorham,  of  iLth  undivided  part  of  Nar- 
ragansett  No.  7.  Said  Thornton  certifying  that  he  was  one 
of  the  Narragansctt  soldiers.     The  consideration  named  in 


SURVEY   AND   FIRST    SETTLEMENT.  31 

the  Deed  was  <£5,  and  was  dated  June  12th,  1735.  Durino- 
this  year,  Col.  Shubael  Gorham  purchased  several  other 
rights  of  120 th  part  each,  of  Joseph  Akers  of  Sandwich, 
Elisha  Hall  of  Yarmouth,  John  Maker  of  Harwich,  Robert 
Nickerson  of  Chatham,  and  several  others.  Col.  S.  Gor- 
ham soon  became  a  large  proprietor,  and  of  him  many  early 
settlers  purchased  lots. 

The  township  had  now  been  prepared  for  settlers.  As 
yet,  however,  it  was  an  unbroken  wilderness,  covered  with 
a  magnificent  growth  of  valuable  forest  trees.  In  May, 
1736,  the  first  trees  were  felled  for  clearino;  land  for  aj^ricul- 
tural  purposes.  John  Phinney,  a  son  of  one  of  the  con- 
querers  of  the  Narragansetts,  a  descendant  of  the  Pilgrims, 
a  wanderer  from  the  old  Colony  of  Plymouth,  disembarked 
from  his  canoe  on  Presumscot  River,  attended  by  his  eldest 
son,  fourteen  years  of  age,  with  an  axe,  gun,  and  a  small 
quantity  of  provisions  and  ammunition,  to  select  a  spot  for 
his  future  home.  Proceeding  westerly  nearly  two  miles 
from  the  river,  he  chose  a  sunny,  elevated  lot,  on  the  south- 
ern slope  of  Fort  Hill,  and  there  that  son,  Edmund  Phin- 
ney, afterwards  distinguished,  not  only  in  various  town  and 
State  offices,  but  as  a  Colonel  of  the  Revolutionary  army, 
felled  the  first  tree  for  clearing  a  farm.  This  was  on  a  lot 
adjoining  what  is  now  called  Fort  Hill  road,  formerly  King 
Street,  about  one  mile  northerly  from  the  principal  village 
in  Gorham.     This  land  is  now  owned  by  Mr.  Moses  Fogg. 

John  Phinney,  the  first  settler  of  Gorham,  was  a  son  of 
Deacon  John  Phinney,  of  Barnstable,  Massachusetts,  and 
was  born  in  that  town,  April  8th,  (old  style)  1693  ;  he 
was  consequently  forty-three  years  old  when  he  commenced 
the  settlement  of  Gorham.  In  Barnstable  he  had  married 
Martha  Colman.  There  they  had  five  children  born.  In 
1732,  he  removed  his  family  to  Falmouth,  (Portland)  and 
they  had  two  children  born  in  Falmouth.     Capt.  Phinney 


82  HISTORY    OF   GORHAM. 

removed  to  Gorliam  in  1736,  and  in  this  town  his  three 
younger  children  were  born,  viz  : — Mary  Gorham,  Cohnan 
and  James.  Mary  Gorham  Phinney,  daughter  of  Captain 
John  Phinney  and  Martha,  his  wife,  was  born  in  August, 
1736.  Soon  after  her  parents  removed  here  ;  she  was  the 
first  white  chikl  born  in  Gorham. 

She  married  James  Irish,  father  of  Gen.  James  Irish. 
They  left  numerous  descendants.  Mrs.  Irish  was  a  pro- 
fessor of  religion  for  seventy  years,  and  during  that  long 
period  she  adorned  her  profession  by  an  exemplary  life  of 
virtue  and  benevolence,  maintaining  the  relations  of  daugh- 
ter, wife,  and  mother,  in  an  unexceptionable  manner,  distin- 
guished for  industry,  kindness  and  hospitality.  She  died 
in  1825,  at  the  advanced  age  of  89  years,  leaving  behind 
her  a  memory  dear  to  many,  and  a  character  worthy  the 
commendation  of  all. 

Cohnan  Phinney,  the  second  child,  born  in  Gorham,  was 
killed  by  a  falling  tree,  when  about  ten  years  of  age. 

James  Phinney,  the  youngest  son  of  Capt.  John  Phinney, 
was  born  April  24,  (old  style)  1741 ;  he  lived  till  October, 
1834,  in  the  94th  year  of  his  age,  highly  respected  for  his 
integrity,  capacity,  and  useful  life ;  intelligent,  and  always 
cheerful  and  hopeful ;  an  eminent  christian  professor  for  80 
years.  He  retained  his  strong  mental  faculties,  and  died  in 
full  possession  of  a  sound  mind  and  correct  judgment ;  and 
what  is  still  more  rare,  a  tenacious  and  unimpaired  memory 
up  to  the  age  of  93  years.  He  rarely,  if  ever,  forgot 
important  events  of  the  town  or  nation,  or  erred  in  names 
or  dates.  Mr.  James  Phinney  enjoyed  through  his  pro- 
tracted life  the  confidence  of  his  toAvnsmen,  and  held  many 
important  municipal  offices. 

Capt.  John  Phinney  lived  in  this  town  about  two  years 
before  any  other  white  family  ;  his  first  dwelling  house 
was  a  few  rods  northerly  from  the  place  on  which  Moses 


SUKVEY    AND    FIRST    SETTLEMENT.  33 

Foo-o-'s  house  now  stands.  Some  Indian  families  liad  wisx- 
wams  near  by,  and  for  two  years  Phinney's  children  had  no 
other  playmates  but  young  Indians. 

For  some  years  Capt.  Phinney  had  to  go  to  Presumscot 
Lower  Falls  to  mill ;  he  also  transported  his  corn,  salt,  and 
other  provisions  on  a  float,  or  small  boat,  up  and  down  the 
Presumscot  River,  carrying  them  round  the  Falls  at  Sacca- 
rappa  and  Congen — or,  as  the  place  was  then  called,  Amon- 
Congen.  There  was  no  pathway  through  the  forest  to 
Portland.  In  these  fatiguing  and  dangerous  journeys  to 
mill,  he  was  frequently  assisted  by  his  oldest  daughter, 
Elizabeth  ;  she  used  to  help  her  father  carry  his  boat  and 
bags  of  corn^  or  meal,  round  the  Falls,  and  assist  him  in 
rowing.  Ehzabeth  Phinney,  afterwards  married  Deacon 
Eliphalet  Watson. 

It  is  said  that  the  second  settler  of  the  town  was  Daniel 
Mosier,  (now  usually  written  Mosher.)  Some  say  the  sec- 
ond family  that  settled  in  town  was  that  of  Hugh  McLellan. 
It  is  difficult  to  decide  which  of  these  tAvo  was  the  second 
settler.  They  came  very  near  the  same  time.  Daniel  Mo- 
sier* removed  from  Falmouth  to  this  town  in  1738.  His 
first  ancestor  in  Maine  was  Hugh  Mosier,  of  French  origin. 
Hugh  Mosier  owned  land  in  Falmouth  as  early  as  1640. 
Daniel  Mosier  was  the  son  of  James  Mosier,  who  died  in 
Gorham  in  1734,  at  the  age  of  99  years  and  three  months. 
There  are  numerous  descendants  of  Daniel,  now  residing  in 
town. 

Hugh  McLellan  came  from  the  north  of  Ireland,  and 
settled  near  where  Asa  Palmer,  Esq.,  now  lives,  about  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  north  of  Gorham  Seminary.  Soon  after 
McLellan,  WiUiam  Pote,   William  Cotton,  Ebenezer  Hall, 

*  I  find  in  early  writings  the  name  written  Mosier,  Mozier,  Mozear, 
and  Mozliear.  Mosier,  I  believe,  was  the  correct  way  of  spelling  the 
name. 

5 


34  HISTORY    OF    GORHAM. 

EHphalet  Watson,  Clement  Harvey,  Bartholomew  Thorn, 
John  Irish,  John  Eayr,  Jacob  Hamblen,  Benjamin  Skillings, 
and  others,  moved  into  the  town  as  settlers. 


HARDSHIPS    OF    THE    SETTLERS.  35 


CHAPTEE    V. 

HARDSHIPS    OF  THE  SETTLERS. 

It  required  no  small  share  of  courage,  firmness,  and  enter- 
prise, to  go  into  the  wilderness  and  commence  a  settlement 
at  that  period.  Let  us,  for  a  moment,  contemplate  the  sit- 
uation of  the  Province  of  Maine  at  the  time  when  Capt. 
Phinney  began  the  settlement  of  this  town.  There  were 
but  nine  towns  and  a  few  feeble  plantations  in  Maine  ;  Port- 
land, Saco,  and  Scarborough,  were  but  just  recovering  from 
their  recent  destruction  by  the  Indians.  A  second  line  of 
townships  from  the  coast  had  just  been  located,  and  were 
frontier  places — all  back  of  them  was  wilderness.  The  In- 
dians, though  nominally  at  peace,  were  restless,  discon- 
tented, jealous,  and  meditated  revenge  for  past  chastisements 
and  victories  obtained  over  them. 

In  1690,  all  the  settlements  east  of  Wells  were  destroyed. 
In  the  Indian  wars  from  1703  to  1713,  Maine  lost  one-third 
of  all  her  population  ;  and  a  large  proportion  of  the  personal 
property  was  destroyed  ;  through  extreme  want  and  suffer- 
ing, many  persons  were  driven  away,  never  to  return.  In 
1724,  the  Norridgewocks  were  broken  up ;  in  1725,  Capt. 
Lovell  and  his  company  killed  or  dispersed  the  Pequawket 
Indians  at  Fryeburg.  In  1736,  the  whole  population  of 
Maine  was  probably  not  more  than  7000.  In  1735-6  and  7, 
the  scarlet  fever,  or  (as  it  was  usually  called)  throat  distem- 
per, raged  throughout  Maine,  and  more  than  five  hundred 


36  HISTORY    OF    GORHAM. 

persons  died  with  that  disease  ;  in  some  towns  it  was  pe- 
culiarly fatal ;  in  Scarborough,  no  one  attacked  with  the 
distemper  recovered. 

The  inhabitants  in  all  the  new  tOAvns,  suffered  greatly 
from  want  of  food,  clothing,  and  comfortable  houses ;  while 
dano-er  from  the  Indians  was  constant  and  pressing.  Fam- 
ine, massacre,  and  captivity,  threatened  them  continually. 
It  required  men  like  the  Puritans,  to  undertake  and  carry 
throuo-h  the  hazardous  enterprise  of  settling  new  towns 
among  savage  beasts  and  savage  men. 

The  early  fathers  of  Gorham  were  persons  of  such  char- 
acters. The  first  settlers  of  our  town  were  from  a  noble 
stock  ;  the  direct  descendants  of  the  Pilgrims.  Almost  all 
the  first  inhabitants  were  from  the  old  Colony  ;  nearly  every 
town  on  Cape  Cod  contributed  one  or  more  settlers  for  Nar- 
ragansett.  No.  7.  The  Grantees,  Capt.  John  Gorham  and 
company,  belonged  to  the  following  towns,  viz :  forty  from 
Barnstable — thirty-nine  from  Yarmouth — twenty-two  from 
Eastham — seven  from  Sandwich — three  from  Plymouth — six 
from  Duxbury — and  one  from  each  of  the  towns  of  Abing- 
ton  and  Scituate  —  besides  Captain  Gorham,  who  was  a 
Yarmouth  man.  The  wives  and  daughters  of  the  first  set- 
tlers of  Gorham,  shared  in  all  the  toils  and  wants  of  their 
husbands  and  fathers  ;  they  used  to  labor  in  the  field  and 
the  forest,  carry  burdens,  go  to  mill,  gather  the  harvest 
and  assist  in  the  defences  of  their  households  and  their 
property. 

Our  early  inhabitants  partook  largely  of  the  character  of 
their  ancestors.  They  were  a  hardy,  enterprising,  virtuous 
race  of  men  ;  of  indomitable  courage — unbending  firmness 
— uncompromising  integrity — sober,  industrious,  frugal,  and 
temperate  in  all  things.  They  were  distinguished  for  endur- 
ing fortitude  and  open-handed  hospitality.  They  were  not 
eminent  for  attainments  in  literature  or  the  sciences ;  they 


HARDSHIPS    OF    THE    SETTLERS.  37 

were  not  deficient  In  talents,  but  tliey  had  not  leisure  or 
opportunity  for  the  cidtivation  of  letters.  They  did  all 
they  could  do,  and  more  than  might  have  been  expected  of 
them  to  do,  in  such  times,  and  in  their  position.  In  their 
humble  dwellings  in  the  wilderness,  they  had  little  leisure 
for  the  study  of  books,  had  they  possessed  them.  Their 
minds  were  incessantly  occupied  in  devising  ways  to  obtain 
sustenance  and  clothing  for  themselves  and  families,  and  in 
providing  means  for  defence  against  artful  and  revengeful 
foes.  Exhausted  with  labors,  and  worn  with  anxious  cares, 
they  could  not  be  expected  to  attend  to  the  elegancies  and 
blandishments  of  older  and  wealthier  communities. 

They  might  at  this  day  be  called  intolerant  in  their  reli- 
gious views  and  practices ;  but  they  were  in  this  respect, 
like  other  sects  of  their  age.  Undoubtedly  they  were  zeal- 
ous for  what  they  considered  to  be  the  truth.  A  stern  and 
somewhat  severe  morality  prevailed  among  the  Puritans  ; 
and  it  would  have  been  strange  if  their  immediate  descend- 
ants had  not  been  somewhat  like  their  fathers,  folio  win  s 
their  advice,  obeying  their  precepts,  and  living  according  to 
their  example. 

Our  Puritan  fathers  felt  conscious  that  religion,  virtue 
and  knowledge,  were  essential  to  good  government,  and  the 
permanent  welfare  of  the  community  ;  hence  they  spared 
no  pains  to  support  the  gospel,  to  inculcate  morality  in  the 
minds  of  their  childi-en,  and  to  provide  means  for  their  edu- 
cation. At  the  very  first  meeting  of  the  Proprietors  of  this 
town,  one  of  their  first  votes  was  to  provide  for  preaching 
and  religious  instruction.  They  never  forgot  the  great  and 
momentous  object  for  which  the  Pilgrims  settled  in  New 
England,  —  religious  freedom  and  liberty  of  conscience. 
They  entered  the  wilderness  for  purity  of  religion  ;  to  found 
a  religious  commonwealth  ;  to  raise  up  a  pious  race.  Un- 
like the  Spanish  adventurers  in  South  America,  they  thirst- 


38  HISTORY    OF    GORHAM. 

ed  not  for  a  career  of  military  glory  ;  they  clierished  no 
extravagant  ambition !     They  looked  not  on  immeasurable 
landsj  with  the  longing  eye  of  cupidity ;  they  expected  no 
brilliant  success,   nor    anticipated   finding  crystal   streams 
whose  sands  sparkled  with  gold  !     They  sought  not  the  sun- 
ny plains  and  exuberant  verdure  of  the  south  !    They  sought 
not  a  clime  gay  with  perennial  ilowers,  with  a  balmy  atmos- 
phere, or  Italian  skies  ;  they  sought  not  a  land  of  gold  or  of 
spices,   of  wine  or  of   oil.      Other  and  purer  wishes  were 
theirs  ;  they  expected  not  a  life  of  luxury  or  ease.    Sanctity 
of  conscience  was  their  great  tenet ;    "  their  religion  was 
their  life."     Rigorous  was  the   climate,  and  hard   the  soil 
where  they  chose  to  dwell.     Here  a  countless  train  of  priva- 
tions and  sufferings  awaited  them,  privations  and  sufferings 
that  might  have  made  the  less  brave  and  energetic  quail. 
Cold  and  hunger,   and  fear  of  midnight  slaughter,  or   cruel 
captivity  by  savage   bands  was  their  portion.     Under  this 
load  of  evils,  what  but  a  firm  belief  in  the  sacredness  of  their 
cause,  and  the  consolations  derived  from  the  sublime  truths 
of  Christianity  could  have   sustained  them.     To  their  reli- 
gious belief,  their  exemplary  lives,  their  untiring  persever- 
ance and  indefatigable  industry,   are  Ave  indebted  for  the 
blessings  of  freedom,  plenty,  and  knowledge  now  enjoyed 
by  our  citizens.     Great  are  our  obligations  to  our  brave 
and  virtuous  fathers  ;  great  also   to  our  noble  and  heroic 
mothers,  who  dwelt  here  in  the  middle  of  the  last  century. 
Though  we  have  often  heard  of  their  labors  and  sviffei'ings, 
it  is  difficult  fully  to  appreciate  them.     "  Their  misery  was 
great !     For  months  they  had  neither  meat  nor  bread,"  and 
often  they  knew  not  where  to  get  food  for  the  morrow. 
Yet  in  all  their  wants   and  trials,  their  confidence  in  the 
goodness  of  God  was  never  shaken. 

The   first  sixteen  years  after  the  settlement  of  Gorham, 
were  years  of  great  anxiety  and  suffering ;  at  one  time  all 


HARDSHIPS    OF    THE    SETTLERS.  39 

the  provision  the  family  of  Capt.  Phinney  had,  for  some 
days,  was  two  quarts  of  boiled  wheat  which  had  been  re- 
served for  seed. 

At  that  period,  all  the  towns  in  Maine  were  obliged  to 
erect  and  maintain  garrisons,  or  forts,  for  places  of  refuge 
against  Indian  attacks.  These  forts  were  constructed  of 
hewn  timber,  with  palisades  of  large  posts  set  deep  in  the 
ground,  closely  together  outside  the  timber,  ten  or  twelve 
feet  high  ;  watch  boxes  were  built  on  the  top  of  the  walls  ; 
the  whole  was  bullet  proof.  The  fort  in  Gorhara  was  built 
on  the  30  acre  lot.  No.  2,  close  to  the  old  burying  ground, 
on  what  is  still  called  Fort  Hill,  and  wliich  is  the  most 
elevated  land  in  the  town. 

The  fort  had  two  six  pounder  swivels  placed  at  diagonal 
corners,  for  the  purpose  of  defence  against  the  Indians,  and 
to  be  fired  to  alarm  the  adjoining  towns  of  Buxton  and 
Windham,  when  savages  were  discovered  in  the  vicinity. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  Proprietors  was  held  at  the  house 
of  Capt.  John  Phinney,  on  the  24th  of  Nov.,  1T41.  Moses 
Pearson  was  chosen  Moderator,  and  John  Gorham,  Clerk  ; 
two  days  afterwards,  (Nov.  26)  the  Proprietors  voted, 
"  That  a  meeting  house  be  built  for  the  worship  of  God,  in 
said  toAvn,  36  feet  long,  20  feet  wide,  with  20  feet  shed  ;" 
and  fifty  shillings  on  a  right,  (two  hundred  acres)  was 
voted,  in  order  to  erect  said  meeting  house,  and  to  clear  a 
suitable  tract  of  land  to  set  the  same  upon.  On  the  next 
Monday,  at  an  adjourned  meeting,  it  was  voted,  "  That 
twenty  rods  square  be  cleared  on  the  west  side  of  the  way 
called  Kino'  Street,  in  order  for  buildin<2:  a  meetino-  house 
thereon."  So  soon,  and  so  liberally  did  the  first  settlers  of 
Gorham  make  provision  for  religious  worship. 

At  the  same  meeting  it  was  also  voted,  "  That  William 
Pote,  John  Phinney,  and  Daniel  Mozier,  be  a  committee  to 
lay  out  a  road  through  the  woods,  from  the  end  of  Gorham 


40  ■  HISTORY    OF    GORHAM. 

Street  to  Saccarappa  mills.  This  road  was  what  is  now 
called  the  old  County  Eoad  from  Gorham  village  by  James 
Phinney's,  Benjamin  Hosier's  and  the  Tyng  place,  to  Sac- 
carappa. In  1743,  at  a  Proprietors'  meeting,  held  Feb.  16, 
it  was  voted,  "  To  raise  sixpence  on  a  right,  to  pay  Daniel 
Mozier,  provided  he  look  out  and  spot  a  road  direct  to 
Black  Point."  At  the  same  meeting,  "  400  acres  of  land 
was  granted  to  John  Gorham,  in  that  corner  of  the  town- 
ship adjoining  Falmouth  and  Presumscot  River  ;  he,  the 
said  Gorham,  to  finish  or  cause  to  be  finished,  the  saw  mill 
and  grist  inill  that  he  hath  already  begun  in  said  township 
on  Little  Eiver."  These  were  the  first  mills  erected  in 
Gorham. 


INDIANS.  41 


CHAPTE]^     VI. 

IXDIAXS. 

It  Is  not  known  tliat  any  Indian  tribe  ever  had  a  perma- 
nent location  in  this  town.  It  is,  however,  certain  that 
many  of  the  natives  had  a  temj^orary  residence  here.  When 
white  jieople  first  came  liere,  they  found  Indian  wigwams, 
cultivated  corn  fields,  and  well  marked  Indian  trails  from 
Sebago  Lake,  Presurascot  and  Saco  rivers.  Indian  imple- 
ments, stone  axes,  chisels,  arrow  heads,  have  been  plowed 
up  within  a  few  years..  Gambo  seems  to  be  the  only  locali- 
ty in  town  that  bears  an  Indian  name.  Indian  Camp  Brook, 
running  by  the  Longfellow  place,  and  Presumscot  River, 
are  the  only  other  names  that  remind  us  of  the  Aborigines. 

Gorham  was  rather  an  Indian  thorouo;hfare  than  a  home. 
Through  this  township  they  went  to  the  sea  shore  in  Scar- 
borough and  Saco,  Avhere  fish  and  fowl  were  abundant. 
This  township  also  afforded  them  good  hunting  grounds. 
Moose,  deer,  bears,  otters,  beavers,  and  foxes  Avere  plentiful. 
They  furnished  much  of  the  meat,  and  their  skins  were  val- 
uable articles  of  trade  for  the  first  settlers.  The  Indians 
had  fishing  stations  on  Presumscot  and  Little  Rivers,  where 
salmon,  shad,  alewives  and  other  fish,  were  taken  in  great 
quantities  at  certain  seasons  of  the  year.  The  Indians  that 
frequented  this  town,  when  first  settled,  belonged  mostly  to 
the  St.  Francois  tribe,  of  Canada.  Many  of  that  tribe  be 
longed  originally  to  the  Androscoggins,  the  Pequawkets,  and 
6 


42  HISTORY    OF   GORHAM. 

tire  Osslpees,  who  had  been  driven  from  this  part  of  Maine. 
Just  before  the  fifth  Indian  war  broke  out,  there  were  more 
Indians  than  whites  residing  in  this  town  ;  they  were  not 
then  hostile  to  the  settlers,  though  they  were  notorious 
thieves  and  beggars.  When  war  broke  out  these  Indians 
retreated  to  Canada,  and  joined  the  French,  and  being  well 
acquainted  with  this  part  of  Maine,  they  became  rangers 
and  spies,  able  and  willing  to  lead  their  warriors  and  friends 
to  the  feeble  white  settlements.  During  the  war  of  1745- 
50,  Indians  Avere  often  seen  and  recognized  by  citizens  of 
Gorham,  as  those  they  had  formerly  known  as  neighbors. 
It  is  related  that  at  one  time  in  a  skirmish  between  some  of 
our  settlers  and  a  war  party,  one  of  the  young  Phinneys 
encountered  an  Indian  whom  he  knew,  of  about  his  own  age, 
who  grew  up  in  this  town,  with  whom  Phinney  had  often 
played  ;  but  now  their  meeting  was  hostile.  A  few  hurried 
words  passed  between  them  while  preparing  for  a  conflict. 
They  both  fired,  the  Indian's  ball  just  grazed  Phinney  whose 
shot  laid  his  savage  antao:onist  dead  on  the  o-round. 

At  another  time  young  William  McLellan,  (or  young 
Bill,  as  he  Avas  called,)  while  hoeing  corn,  discovered  a 
young  Indian  whom  he  had  formerly  well  known;  the  native 
was  crawling  stealthily  to  the  end  of  the  row  of  corn  that 
Bill  was  hoeing.  McLellan  had  his  gun  in  the  field,  but  it 
was  some  rods  back,  by  a  large  stumps.  Bill  turned  back 
with  his  hoe,  cutting  down  a  weed  or  two,  as  if  to  hoe  his 
corn  better  ;  he  reached  the  stump  and  crawled  round  it  so 
as  to  interpose  the  stump  between  him  and  the  Indian,  and 
then  crept  undiscovered  to  some  bushes — the  savage  sup- 
posing Bill  was  by  the  stump,  silently  crawled  to  it,  and 
raising  himself  cautiously  was  looking  round  ;  Bill  had  a 
fair  aim,  and  calling  to  his  former  playmate,  said,  "  you 
no  shoot  young  Bill  this  time,"  fired  instantly  and  wounded 
the  Indian,  who  placed  his  hand  over  the  wound,  and  ran 


INDIANS.  43 

for  the  woods,  exclaiming,  "  Bill,  you  shoot  him  well  this 
time."  The  gun  barrel  with  which  young  Bill  shot  the  In- 
dian, is  now  (1861)  in  the  possession  of  Col.  Hugh  D.  Mc- 
Lellan  of  Gorham. 

In  1745,  what  is  called  the  fifth  Indian  war  broke  out. 
Narragansett,  No.  7,  being  a  frontier  town,  was  entirely  ex- 
posed to  assaults  from  the  savages  ;  the  few  inhabitants 
were  obliged  to  be  on  watchful  guard  day  and  night ;  often 
compelled  to  fly  to  garrison  ;  to  labor  with  arms  in  their 
hands  ;  their  crops  were  injured  or  destroyed  ;  their  fences 
broken  down  ;  their  cattle  killed  ;  their  buildings  burned  ; 
themselves  killed  or  carried  captive  to  Canada. 

These  aggravated  and  repeated  distresses  disheartened 
some  of  the  settlers  ;  they  abandoned  their  houses  and  fields, 
and  removed  to  places  less  liable  to  attack.  In  Gorham  the 
settlers  lived  for  years  in  a  state  of  painful  anxiety ;  they 
were  prevented  from  cultivating  their  lands ;  their  mills 
were  burned  ;  and  the  distressed  families,  shut  up  in  the 
fort,  were  in  danger  of  starvation  !  At  the  commencement 
of  this  French  and  Indian  war,  there  were  eighteen  families 
in  this  town  ;  nine  of  which  moved  into  the  garrison  where 
they  were  closely  shut  up  for  four  years.  They  were  in  the 
fortress  seven  years.  Eleven  soldiers  were  furnished  by  the 
government  of  Massachusetts  to  assist  in  protecting  the  gar- 
rison and  procuring  the  necessaries  of  life. 

Nine  families  removed  into  the  fort,  viz  :  those  of  Capt. 
John  Phinney,  Jacob  Hamblen,  Daniel  Hosier,  Hugh  Mc- 
Lellan,  Clement  Harvey,  John  Eced,  Edward  Cloutman, 
Jeremiah  Hodgdon  and  Eliphalet  Watson. 

Those  who  left  the  town  were  William  Bote,  James  Irish, 
John  Eayr,  Caleb  Cromwell,  Ebenezer  Hall,  William  Cot- 
ton, Benjamin  Shillings,  and  Benjamin  Stevens.  Of  these 
most  went  to  Falmouth,  a  few  to  Massachusetts  ;  nearly  all 
of  them  returned  to  the  town  after  the  war  closed,  and  set- 
tled on  their  lands. 


44  HISTOPwY    OF    GORHAM. 

The  19th  of  April,  (old  style)  corresponding  to  April  30 
now,  was  a  disastrous  day  to  the  little  band  of  settlers  in 
Gorham.  On  that  sad  day,  a  family  of  the  name  of  Bryant 
was  cut  off  by  Indian  cruelty  !  The  father  and  children 
slain  in  a  barbarous  manner  !  the  wife  and  mother  carried 
away,  heart-broken,  into  captivity,  and  two  of  the  most 
hardy  and  effective  men,  Eeed  and  Cloutman,  taken  prison- 
ers, and  marched  through  the  woods  to  Canada.  On  that 
morning  there  were  four  families  that  had  not  removed  to 
the  garrison,  viz :  Bryant's,  Reed's,  Cloutman's  and  Mc- 
Lellan's.  Bryant  contemplated  moving  the  day  preceding 
the  massacre,  but  concluded  to  defer  it  one  day  longer  to 
complete  some  family  arrangement.  They  had  an  infant 
but  two  weeks  old ;  the  mother  wished  to  have  a  cradle  for 
her  little  one,  and  said  if  the  father  would  remain  in  their 
dwelling  that  day  and  make  the  cradle,  she  would  risk  her 
scalp  one  day  longer  !  That  risk  was  a  fatal  one  !  A  party 
often  Indian  warriors  had  entered  the  town  unknown  to  the 
inhabitants.  Some  of  the  savages  had  previously  lived  in  the' 
toAvn  ;  they  knew  the  people  and  where  they  lived ;  they 
ascertained  who  had  not  removed  to  the  fort.  Their  inten- 
tion was  to  take  the  four  families  captive  without  alarming 
the  garrison  ;  for  this  purpose  they  divided  into  parties. 
Early  in  the  morning  of  the  day  before  named,  Bryant  and 
his  eldest  son  went  to  a  field  to  repair  fences  ;  one  of  the 
Indian  parties  came  upon  them,  and  as  they  were  not  able 
to  capture  them,  they  shot  Bryant  and  his  son,  as  they  en- 
deavored to  escape  to  the  fort.  The  place  where  Mr. 
Bryant  was  killed,  is  on  the  low  ground  st)uth  of  where 
Nathaniel  Hamblen  now  lives,  and  near  the  main  road. 
Bryant's  house  stood  about  fifty  rods  northerly  of  where 
George  Pendleton,  Esq.,  lives,  near  where  a  town  road 
crosses  Fort  Hill  road,  about  half  a  mile  northerly  from 
Gorham  Seminary.     The  savages  then   proceeded   to  Bry- 


INDIANS.  4o 

ant's  house,  and  murdered  and  scalped  four  of  his  children  ! 
They  dashed  out  the  brains  of  the  infant  against  the  stone 
fire  place  !  The  agonized  and  frantic  mother,  feeble  and 
powerless,  had  to  witness  the  destruction  of  all  that  was 
dear  to  her  heart !  to  leave  her  husband  dead  in  the  way, 
and  the  mangled  bodies  of  her  loved  and  innocent  children 
in  her  desolate  mansion,  and  with  feelino^s  of  bitter  ano-uish, 
which  none  may  describe,  under  the  weight  of  her  terrible 
bereavement,  go  captive  Avith  the  destroyers  of  all  her 
earthly  happiness,  through  pathless  forests,  tangled  swamps, 
and  over  rugged  mountains,  to  a  people  whose  language 
she  could  not  understand,  and  Avho  were  her  enemies  and 
the  enemies  of  her  people,  kindred  and  friends ! 

Hugh  McLellan's  family  lived  near  where  Asa  Palmer, 
Esq.,  now  resides  ;  Eeed  lived  on  what  is  called  the  Miller 
place,  now  owned  by  George  Pendleton,  Esq. ;  Edward 
Cloutman,  (or  Cloudman,  as  the  name  is  now  generally 
spelled)  lived  on  the  Col.  Nath'l  Frost  farm,  a  little  above 
Reed's,  while  Bryant's  house  was  some  thirty  rods  above 
Cloutman's,  and  nearer  the  fort.  All  about  half  a  mile 
southerly  of  the  garrison. 

The  following  account  of  the  Indian  attack  at  Gorliam, 
April  19,  1746,  is  compiled  from  a  Manusci'ipt  kindly  loaned 
me  by  Col.  Hugh  D.  McLellan,  who  wrote  it  from  the  rela- 
tion of  Mrs.  Abigail  McLellan,  some  forty  years  ago.  Mrs. 
McLellan  died  about  1821,  at  an  advanced  age  ;  she  was  a 
girl  at  the  time  of  the  massacre,  living  in  her  father's  family, 
and  well  remembered  the  terrible  events  she  related : — 

"  All  the  families  remaining;  in  Gorham  had  removed  into 
the  fort  during  the  winter  and  early  part  of  spring,  except 
four  ;  they  remained  on  their  lands,  hoping  to  get  their 
ploughing  and  sowing  done,  so  they  might  raise  some  crops. 
Capt.  John  Phinney,  the  patriarch  of  the  settlement,  who 
exercised  a  fatherly  care  over  the  weak  and  feeble  planta- 


46  HISTORY    OF    GORHAM. 

tion,  was  urgent  to  have  all  in  the  garrison  ;  he  feeling  cer- 
tain that  the  Indians  would  be  upon  them  as  soon  as  the 
ground  was  bared  of  snow.  As  the  spring  opened  he  en- 
treated the  settlers  to  make  no  delay  about  moving  into  the 
fort,  a  place  of  comparative  safety,  and  where  they  might 
unite  in  defending  each  other.  The  forwardness  of  the 
season  increased  his  anxiety. 

"  On  the  evening  of  the  18th  of  April,  the  McLellan  fam- 
ily had  completed  their  day's  labor,  and  were  assembled  in 
their  log  house  ;  they  expected  to  complete  their  work  in  a 
field  the  next  day,  and  then  designed  to  move  immediately 
into  the  garrison.  The  evening  was  pleasant  and  warm  ; 
their  door  was  open,  and  their  family  dog  reclining  outside, 
on  the  ground  ;  suddenly  the  dog  growled  and  became  excit- 
ed, and  acted  as  if  he  discovered  danger  ;  the  dog's  conduct 
alarmed  the  family,  and  they  uttered  the  word,  Indians  I 
The  door  was  quickly  closed  and  fastened  ;  their  light  was 
extinguished  ;  the  windows,  small  openings  cut  in  the  logs 
of  which  the  house  was  built,  covered  and  fastened  ;  blan- 
kets were  hung  around  the  fire  place,  so  that  no  light 
might  be  seen  outside,  few  words  were  spoken,  and  those 
in  a  low  tone.  There  were  four  guns  in  the  house,  and 
two  male  persons,  (Hugh  McLellan  and  his  son  William) 
■capable  of  using  them.  And  Mrs.  McLellan  was  not  much 
inferior  to  her  husband  in  streno;th  and  couratje.  When 
the  McLellans  had  put  their  house  in  the  best  state  for 
defense  their  means  offered,  they  had  a  milk-pan  full  of 
gun-powder,  and  lead  enough,  but  it  was  not  in  balls. 
Here  was  work  for  female  hands,  and  while  Mr.  Mc- 
Lellan and  William  lay  by  the  loop  holes,  each  with  one 
gun  pointed  outside  and  another  Avithin  reach,  Mrs.  Mc- 
Lellan was  by  the  fire,  behind  the  screen,  with  her  little 
daughter  Abigail,  melting  lead  in  an  iron  skillet,  and  with  an 
iron  spoon  turning  it  into  a  bullet  mould,  and  then  making 


INDIANS.  47 

b<all  cartridges.  No  one  in  the  house  closed  their  eyes 
that  night !  The  tedious  hours  passed  on  ;  the  morning 
came  ;  all  was  fair  nnd  peaceful  Avithout,  nor  could  any 
indications  of  Indians  be  discovered,  and  the  McLellans 
concluded  that  the  alarm  of  the  dog  was  caused  by  some 
wild  animal.  Mr.  McLcllan  decided  to  go  to  his  work,  and 
finish  it  that  day,  and  then  go  immediately  into  garrison. 
They  yoked  their  oxen,  and  he  and  his  son  went  to  his  field, 
charging  Mrs.  McLellan  to  keep  the  dog  at  home,  to  be 
watchful,  and  on  any  alarm,  to  blow  the  horn.  Before  they 
left  the  house,  a  neighbor,  Mr.  John  Reed,  came  to  borrow 
a  chain ;  to  him  they  made  known  their  apprehensions. 
Reed  said  he  had  seen  nothing  unusual,  and  did  not  think 
the  Indians  were  in  the  neighborhood  ;  no  signs  of  them 
had  been  seen,  and  he  should  finish  his  work  before  he  moved 
into  the  fort.  Reed  took  the  chain,  put  it  on  his  shoul- 
der and  started  for  home.  When  he  arrived  at  the  brook 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  north  of  Gorham  Academy,  (now 
called  "  Tommy's  brook)  he  was  suddenly  set  upon  by  two 
powerful  Indians,  who  had  secreted  themselves  in  the  bush- 
es. Reed  was  brave  and  athletic,  but  was  unarmed ;  the- 
two  Indians  overpowered  him,  bound  him  securely,  and 
took  him  to  Canada.  After  the  close  of  the  war,  he  return- 
ed home.  The  McLellan  family  owed  their  escape  to  the 
capture  of  Reed,  as  the  Indians  who  took  him  were  on  their 
way  to  McLellan's  house,  but,  having  taken  Reed,  and  there 
being  two  men  at  McLellan's,  it  would  have  been  hazai'dous 
to  have  made  an  attack  then.  In  their  conflict  with  Bryant,, 
the  Indians  had  fired  a  gun  and  broken  Bryant's  arm  ;  he 
attempted  to  get  to  the  fort ;  he  reached  the  small  brook 
southerly  of  Nathaniel  Hamblen's  house,  the  Indians  press- 
ing hard  upon  him  ;  Bryant  discovered,  on  the  top  of  the 
hill  where  Hamblen  now  lives,  Mr.  Daniel  Mosier,  with  his 
gun  on  his  shoulder,  coming  towards  them ;  Bryant   called 


48  HISTORY    OF    GORHAM. 

to  Mosier  to  fire  on  the  Indians,  but  Hosier  was  a  long  gun- 
shot off,  and  did  not  know  the  number  of  Indians  there  ; 
at  that  moment  the  nearest  Indian  sprang  upon  Bryant,  and 
Avith  rapid  bloAvs  of  the  tomahawk,  dispatched  him  before 
Mosier  was  hardly  conscious  of  what  was  taking  place.  He 
returned  to  the  fort  and  gave  the  alarm.  Mrs.  McLellan, 
hearing  the  gun  fired  at  Bryant,  directed  her  little  daughter 
Abigail,  about  twelve  years  of  age,  to  go  to  Mr.  Bryant's 
and  enquire  what  the  gun  was  fired  for,  but  the  child,  being 
afraid,  secreted  herself.  When  the  mother  discovered  her 
she  again  ordered  her  to  o;o ;  the  distance  was  short  and  she 
soon  arrived  at  the  Bryant  house.  She  entered,  and  the 
sight  that  presented  itself  to  her  astonished  eyes  paralyzed 
her  voice  and  limbs  for  the  moment.  On  the  floor  lay  the 
four  children  in  their  blood  !  They  all  fell  under  the  toma- 
hawk except  the  babe.  The  eldest  daughter  was  alive  ;  she 
called  Abigail  by  name  and  asked  for  water,  but  Abigail 
was  stricken  with  horror  and  heeded  her  not !  instantly  she 
was  flying  home,  nor  stopped  to  look  around.  She  reached 
her  father's  house  and  fell  prostrate  at  the  door.  Her  mother 
took  her  up,  laid  her  on  a  bed,  and  immediately  blew  the 
horn  for  her  husband  and  son  to  come.  Animation  revived 
in  the  girl,  and  she  uttered  the  word  "Indians  !"  and  fainted 
again.  Mr.  McLellan  heard  the  horn  and  hastily  ran  home, 
leaving  his  oxen  in  the  yoke.  Abigail,  on  recovering  from 
her  swoon,  related  what  she  had  seen  at  Bryant's  house. 
Mr.  McLellan  immediately  put  his  house  in  a  position  to  re- 
sist a  sudden  attack  or  to  stand  a  seige.  Water  was  pro- 
cured, windows  and  doors  made  close  and  fast.  They  knew 
not  the  extent  of  the  Indians'  success,  whether  all  the  neigh- 
bors were  killed,  or  taken  prisoners  ;  nor  did  they  feel  sure 
of  the  safety  of  the  fort ;  but  they  determined  to  resist  the 
savages  if  an  attack  was  made  on  their  house.  It  was  not 
Jong  before  they  heard  the  report  of  the   alarm   gun,  (a  six 


INDIANS.  49 

pounder  at  the  fort)  which  was  to  give  notice  of  the  pres- 
ence of  the  enemy  in  the  neighborhood,  and  to  warn  all  out 
of  the  fort  to  watch  against  surprise.  Capt.  Phinney  and 
the  other  persons  in  the  fort  were  apprised  that  the  Indians 
were  around  them  by  the  report  of  Mr.  Mosier,  but  they 
knew  nothing  of  their  numbers,  or  the  extent  of  their  depre- 
dations beyond  the  fact  that  Mr.  Bryant  was  killed  ;  they 
did  not  therefore  deem  It  prudent,  with  their  small  force,  to 
leave  the  garrison.  Bryant's  house  was  but  half  a  mile  dis- 
tant from  the  fort,  but  as  most  of  the  intervening  space  was 
covered  with  a  thick  wood  and  bushes  where  the  enemy 
might  lay  in  ambush  and  come  upon  them  by  surprise,  or 
shoot  them  from  the  thickets,  they  made  the  entrances  to 
the  fort  secure  and  kept  a  careful  watch.  Thus  the  day 
passed,  and  none  arriving  at  the  fort,  its  inmates  supposed 
the  four  families  remaining  out  were  all  either  killed  or  taken 
captives. 

"  The  McLellan  family  maintained  anxious  watching  all 
that  day  and  the  following  night.  The  next  day,  about 
noon,  men  were  seen  coming  over  what  is  now  called  the 
Academy  hill,  towards  McLellan's  house.  At  first  sight 
they  Avere  supposed  to  be  Indians,  but  they  proved  to  be  a 
scouting  party  going  to  the  fort ;  there  were  about  a  dozen 
armed  men  from  Falmouth,  (Portland.)  The  alarm  gun 
had  been  heard,  and  they  were  thus  notified  that  Indians 
were  about  Gorham  or  Windham.  At  Saccarappa  the 
scouting  party  divided  and  part  went  to  Windham.  The 
party  for  Gorham  came  to  McLellan's  house,  where  they 
were  joyfully  received.  McLellan's  oxen,  still  yoked,  were 
found  in  the  woods,  near  by  where  they  had  been  left  the 
morning  before ;  what  furniture  they  had  was  quickly  load- 
ed on  a  cart,  and,  under  the  protection  of  the  scout,  they 
started  for  the  fort.  Near  Bryant's  house  they  met  a  party 
from  the  /ort,  who  had  ventured  out  that  day  to  learn  some- 
7 


50  HISTORY    OF   GORHAM. 

thing  of  the  extent  of  the  mischief  done  by  the  savages. 
The  bodies  of  Mr.  Bryant  and  his  children  were  carried  to 
the  fort  and  buried  near  by,  with  due  f»ropriety."  The 
family  of  Reed  was  immediately  removed  to  the  garrison, 
Avhere  all  the  occupants  remained  for  nearly  seven  years  ; 
where  they  were  many  times  greatly  distressed  for  food,  and 
scantily  supplied  Avitli  clothing. 

Cloutman's  family  had  removed  from  the  garrison  some 
days  before  the  Indian  attack.  He  had  gone  to  his  field  to 
complete  some  sowing  of  his  grain  ;  he  was  there  discov- 
ered by  the  Indians ;  they  were  very  desirous  of  capturing 
him ;  they  knew  he  was  the  owner  of  a  very  good  gun, 
which  they  greatly  coveted  and  had  often  endeavored  to 
obtain.  Cloutman  was  a  powerful  man,  in  the  full  vigor  of 
his  muscular  strength,  in  the  prime  of  life.  The  Indians 
thought  his  capture  would  be  a  heavy  and  discouraging 
blow  to  the  settlers  in  Gorham.  There  were  eight  Indians 
in  the  party  that  captured  him.  Cloutman  was  alone  in  his 
field,  sowing  wheat ;  as  soon  as  his  back  was  turned  towards 
them,  five  of  the  savages  ran  towards  him ;  he  discovered 
them  and  ran  for  Mr.  Bryant's  house  ;  coming  to  the  fence, 
where  he  had  a  short  time  before  placed  brush,  in  trying  to 
leap  over  the  fence  he  became  entangled  and  fell  back ;  he 
rose  and  tried  a  second  time,  but  did  not  succeed  ;  then  two 
Indians  sprang  toward  him  ;  Cloutman  knocked  them  down ; 
a  third  Indian  he  put  under  his  feet ;  two  more  savages 
came  up  with  guns  leveled  at  his  breast ;  Cloutman  then 
surrendered.  Had  it  not  been  for  the  brush  that  entan- 
gled him,  he  would  probably  have  saved  himself  and  the 
Bryant  fiimily.  As  it  was  he  was  carried  to  Canada,  and 
was  confined  with  about  one  hundred  other  captives,  near 
the  mouth  of  the  river  Sorell.  Cloutman  was  more  than 
six  feet  tall,  and  weighed  220  pounds.  By  his  neighbors 
he  was  called  the  Giant — more  on  account  of  his  strength 


INDIANS.  51 

than  his  size.  After  arriving  in  Canada,  he  wrote  his  wife 
a  letter,  which  she  received  in  September  following,  relating 
the  particulars  of  his  capture.  He  informed  her  that  they 
took  him,  and  Reed,  and  Mrs.  Bryant,  westerly,  down  the 
stream  near  where  Mr.  Robert  Files  lately  lived,  and  re- 
mained concealed  there  all  day.  At  night  two  Indians 
approached  the  fort  so  near  they  could  hear  the  voices  of 
the  inmates.  About  midnight  they  waded  Little  River. 
Mrs.  Bryant  being  very  feeble,  Mr.  Cloutman  carried  her 
on  his  back  over  all  the  streams,  and  many  miles  besides, 
where  the  travelling  was  bad.  The  second  day  they  en- 
camped on  the  banks  of  Saco  River.  They  followed  this 
stream  and  passed  through  the  notch  of  the  White  Moun- 
tains, and  thence  proceeded  northerly  to  Canada.  When 
they  arrived  there,  Cloutman  and  Reed  were  confined  in  a 
large  building,  under  guard,  with  other  captives  ;  but  Mrs. 
Bryant  was  sold  for  a  domestic  in  a  French  family.  The 
able-bodied  male  prisoners  were  daily  taken  from  the  prison 
and  compelled  to  work  on  the  French  fortifications.  Mr. 
Cloutman  and  a  Mr.  Dunbar  planned  an  escape  by  dig- 
ging out  under  their  prison  walls.  They  had  laid  by  a 
part  of  their  daily  allowance  of  food  to  eat  on  their  way 
home,  and  were  waiting  for  a  favorable  night  to  break  out ; 
but  they  were  betrayed  by  an  Irishman,  who  was  going 
with  them.  They  were  more  strictly  watched  till  cold 
weather.  About  the  first  of  November,  Cloutman  and 
Dunbar  escaped,  on  a  stormy  night.  They  were  not  missed 
for  two  or  three  days ;  then  a  large  scout  of  French  and 
Indians  went  in  pursuit  of  them,  but  did  not  find  them.  It 
was  supposed  they  were  drowned  in  attempting  to  swim 
across  a  bay  of  Lake  Champlain,  as  the  next  spring  the 
skeletons  of  two  men  were  found  on  the  shore  of  the  lake, 
with  their  clothes  tied  to  the  back  of  their  heads,  and  in  one 
garment  was  found  a  pocket  compass,  Avhich  was  identified 
as  one  Cloutman  had  in  Canada. 


52  HISTORY   OF   GORHAM. 

After  peace  was  made,  an  Indian  came  to  Gorham,  and 
called  on  Clontman's  widow,  and  with  a  beaver  skin  wanted 
to  buy  an  axe.  She  would  not  sell  him  her  axe.  He  then 
went  to  Mr.  Dennis  Larry's  house  and  traded  with  him. 
The  Indian  told  Mr.  Larry,  that  he  was  one  of  the  party 
that  captured  Cloutman,  and  told  how  they  did  it.  He 
said,  "  Strong  man  Cloutman.  He  beat  two  Indians  so 
they  died  before  they  got  to  Canada."  The  Avidow  of 
Cloutman  afterwards  married  Mr.  Abraham  Anderson,  of 
Windham,  and  she  died  In  that  town,  December  1st,  1802, 
aged  84  years.  She  was  the  grandmother  of  the  Hon. 
John  Anderson,  late  of  Portland,  and  Hon.  Edward  Ander- 
son, of  Windham,  and  Mrs.  Ann  Waterman,  wife  of  Dr. 
John  Waterman,  of  Gorham.  Edward  Cloutman  left  a  son 
and  a  daughter  ;  the  latter  died  unmarried.  His  son  Timo- 
thy married  Katy  Partridge.  They  left  a  numerous  family, 
who  were  respectable  and  useful  citizens  of  Gorham,  and 
several  of  his  descendants  still  reside  in  this  town. 

During  the  Indian  war.  Col.  Edmund  Phinney,  then  a 
young  man,  was  one  evening  about  half  a  mile  easterly  from 
the  fort,  in  pursuit  of  cows ;  he  was  fired  upon  by  a  party 
of  Indians,  laying  in  ambush,  three  balls  struck  Phinney 
and  wounded  him  severely,  he  succeeded  In  keeping  his  gun 
and  reaching  the  fort ;  his  left  arm  was  broken,  and  as  there 
was  no  doctor  in  the  fort,  the  next  day  two  men  walked 
through  the  forest  with  him  to  Portland,  where  the  frac- 
tured arm,  and  his  other  gun-shot  wounds,  were  attended 
to  by  Dr.  Coffin. 

Some  years  after  the  Indian  attack  In  1746,  a  young  man, 
Bartholomew  Thorn,  while  going  home  to  the  fort  one  day, 
was  taken  by  the  Indians,  and  carried  captive  to  Canada. 
He  remained  a  year  or  two  with  the  St.  Francois"  tribe,  and 
was  then  sold  to  a  French  gentleman  at  Montreal.  Thorn 
was  treated  kindly  by  the  Frenchman,  and  was  his  master's 


INDIANS.  53 

gardener.  He  did  not  like  this  monotonous  life,  and  after 
seven  years'  absence  lie  returned  to  Gorliam.  Previous  to 
his  being  taken  captive,  he  was  a  noted  hunter  and  trapper  ; 
he  knew  all  the  streams  and  lakes  in  Gorhara,  Buxton, 
Standish  and  AYindham.  Thorn  was  well  known  to  several 
Indians,  who  resorted  to  those  towns,  and  had  an  intimate 
acquaintance  with  some  of  them  ;  he  sometimes  hunted  with 
them,  slept  in  their  wigwams,  and  shared  their  food.  The 
savages  thought  him  a  trespasser  on  their  hunting  grounds. 
He  would  often  remain  in  the  forests  weeks  at  a  time,  subsist- 
ing on  game.  He  was  taciturn  and  cautious  ;  had  a  quick 
eye  and  ear,  a  sinewy  frame,  and  possessed  undaunted  cour- 
age. The  Indians  accused  him  of  not  only  tresspassing  on 
their  lands,  but  of  robbing  their  traps.  There  is  a  tradition 
that  an  Indian,  on  one  occasion,  went  to  examine  his  traps 
near  the  mouth  of  Little  Eiver  in  Gorham,  and  he  found  the 
leg  of  a  large  otter  In  his  trap.  On  examination  he  discov- 
ered that  the  leg  had  been  disjointed  by  a  sharp  knife.  The 
Indian  at  once  surmised  that  Thorn  had  taken  his  otter- 
After  an  examination  of  his  trap,  and  the  ground  and  leaves 
near  by,  he  thought  the  trespass  had  not  long  been  commit- 
ted, and  that  the  plunderer  could  not  be  far  off.  With  In- 
dian sagacity  he  discovered  and  followed  the  trail ;  he  had 
not  gone  far  when  he  discovered  a  smoke  ;  as  he  approached 
he  saw  Thorn  In  the  act  of  cooking  some  game,  and  near 
by  what  he  thought  was  the  skin  of  his  otter.  The  Indian 
showed  himself  and  told  Thorn  that  he  had  stolen  his  otter. 
Thorn  replied  that  the  otter  was  his  own  ;  the  Indian  raised 
his  gun.  Thorn  seized  his  ;  the  Indian's  gun  missed  fire  : 
instantly  Thorn  discharged  his,  and  the  next  minute  the 
Indian  lay  dead  on  the  ground.  The  caj)ture  of  Thorn  was 
the  last  Indian  mischief  done  In  Gorham.  After  about  seven 
years'  absence.  Thorn  returned  to  this  town,  but  the  settlers 
cleared  up  the  land,  and  tliis  made  game  scarce.     Thorn 


54  HISTORY    OF    GORHAM. 

did  not  like  to  have  so  many  neighbors,  and  in  June,  1775, 
he  removed  to  what  is  now  the  town  of  Baklwin,  and  was  the 
first  settler  of  that  town,  and  his  son  William  was  the  first 
white  child  born  in  that  place.  Thorn  for  many  years  tend- 
ed the  first  o-rist-mill  in  Baldwin ;  he  died  in  that  town  about 
1820,  being  over  ninety  years  of  age.  He  continued  to 
hunt,  trap,  and  fish,  up  to  the  latter  years  of  his  life. 

It  is  said  that  one  day,  during  this  Indian  war,  that  five 
savages  were  killed  on  the  Fort  Hill  road  near  the  brook, 
southerly  of  Nath'l  Hamblen's  house  ;  three  of  them  fell  by 
the  gun  of  William  McLellan.  At  another  time,  when  all 
the  men  were  out  of  the  fort,  working  together,  (as  was  the 
custom  for  greater  safety)  an  old  dog  at  the  fort,  by  bark- 
ing and  frantic  gestures,  awakened  the  suspicions  of  the 
females  in  the  garrison  ;  they  closed  the  gate,  and  Mrs.  Mc- 
Lellan (the  wife  of  Hugh)  ascended  to  the  watch  box,  and 
carefully  scanning  the  bushes  and  stumps  in  the  vicinity, 
discovered  an  Indian  behind  a  bush  ;  she  got  a  loaded 
musket  and  watched  at  the  port-hole.  Soon  the  Indian  rose 
cautiously,  surveying  the  fort.  He  stood  in  full  view,  Mrs. 
McLellan  fired, — her  shot  took  effect.  The  men  hearing 
the  report  of  the  gun,  came  running  to  the  fort  to  learn  the 
cause  ;  when  told,  they  were  incredulous,  as  they  had  not 
seen  or  tracked  any  Indians  ;  but  Mrs.  McLellan  insisted 
-that  she  had  killed,  or  desperately  wounded  an  Indian. 
The  spot  was  examined  where  she  said  the  Indian  stood,  a 
pool  of  blood  was  found,  and  a  trail  of  blood  followed  some 
way  into  the  woods.  Probably  his  companions  carried  the 
wounded  Indian  away.  Mrs.  McLellan  lived  to  a  great 
age,  and  always  asserted  that  she  killed  or  severely  wounded 
the  savage.  While  this  Indian  war  lasted,  the  settlers  of 
Gorham  were  constantly  harrassed  by  the  savages,  though 
eleven  soldiers  were  sent  by  Massachusetts  government  for 
their  protection.     In  the  Avintcr  when  their  footsteps  could 


INDIANS.  55 

be  seen  in  the  snow,  the  Indians  avoided  the  settlements, 
because  the  rangers  or  scouts  could  track  and  follow  them. 
In  the  spring,  summer  and  autumn,  much  of  the  exposed 
property  in  this  town  was  destroyed.  Cattle,  horses,  and 
swine  were  killed,  and  their  growing  crops  in  their  fields 
destroyed  or  plundered.  This  war  of  ambuscade,  massacre, 
and  conflagration,  kept  the  people  in  continual  terror  and 
agitation  ;  nor  did  they  feel  secure  till  1759,  when  Quebec 
capitulated  to  the  army  of  Wolfe,  and  France  lost  her  em- 
pire, and  with  it  her  influence  over  the  savages  in  North 
America. 


iyii  HISTORY   OF   GORHAM. 


CHAPTEE    VII. 

PROGKESS    OF    THE    TOWN. 

After  the  termination  of  liostilities,  and  the  fear  of  Indian 
assaults  was  removed,  most  of  the  old  settlers  returned  to 
the  places  they  had  left.  Many  new  settlers  came,  and  im- 
provements and  buildings  went  forward.  The  last  rej)airs 
done  to  the  fort  were  in  1760,  when  one  shilling  and  four 
pence  per  foot  was  voted  to  Hugh  McLellan  for  stockading 
the  fort,  with  spruce,  pine,  or  hemlock  posts,  thirteen  feet 
long,  and  ten  inches  diameter,  with  a  lining  of  hcAvn  timber 
six  inches  thick.  During  the  war,  public  worship  was  held 
in  the  southeast  bastion,  or  flanker  of  the  fort.  At  a  meet- 
ing of  the  Proprietors,  held  at  the  fort,  February  26,  1760, 
*'  Capt.  John  Waite,  Moses  Pearson,  Esq.,  and  Mr.  Wil- 
liam Cotton,  were  chosen  a  committee  to  consider  of  buikling 
a  meeting  house,  where  to  set  said  house,  and  how  big  to 
build  it." 

At  the  same  meeting  it  was  voted  to  raise  and  assess  on 
the  several  rights  of  land,  £QQ,  13s.  4d.,  towards  building 
a  meeting  house ;  that  meeting  house  was  completed  in 
1761.  In  1763,  the  first  bridge  over  Presumscot  River  be- 
tween the  towns  of  Gorliam  and  Windham  was  erected. 
The  inhabitants  increased,  and  in  1761,  a  movement  began 
for  the  pui'pose  of  an  incorporation  of  the  town.  And  at  a 
meeting  of  the  Proprietors,  held  January  20,  1762,  there 
was  an  article  in  the  warrant  for  calling  the  meeting,  "  to 


PROGRESS    OF   THE   TOAVN.  57 

choose  an  Agent  to  oppose  the  petition  of  a  number  of  the 
inhabitants  of  Gorhamtown,  who  pray  that  the  lands  in 
said  town  might  be  incorporated  into  a  town,  district  or 
parish,  vested  with  powers  and  privikiges  as  in  all  like 
cases."  The  incorporation  of  the  town  was  strongly  op- 
posed by  many  of  the  non-resident  proprietors,  because  they 
apprehended  their  taxes  would  be  nuich  increased  if  the 
town  was  organized. 

The  inhabitants  increased  rapidly,  and  the  residents  in 
town  pressed  for  an  incorporation,  and  in  1764  the  toM'nship 
was  estimated  to  contain  340  souls.  The  town  was  incorpor- 
ated in  1764,  October  24,  by  the  General  Court  of  Massa- 
chusetts.    It  was  the  twentieth  town  incorporated  in  Maine. 

The  first  town  meeting  was  held  in  pursuance  of  a  war- 
rant from  the  Hon.  Stephen  Longfellow,  at  the  meeting 
house  in  Gorham,  February  18,  1765  ;  at  which  meeting 
Capt.  John  Phinney  was  chosen  Moderator,  Amos  Whitney 
Town  Clerk  ;  Benjamin  Skillings,  Amos  Whitney,  and 
Joseph  Weston,  Selectmen,  and  Edmund  Phinney,  Treas- 
urer. Not  less  than  twelve  town  meetino-s  were  held  that 
year,  viz:  on  Feb.  18th,  March  12th,  March  21st,  April 
29th,  May  16th,  May  30th,  Aug.  1st,  Aug.  10th,  Aug. 
20th,  Sept.  2d,  Dec.  12th,  and  Dec.  19th.  Eoads  and 
bridges  were  needed  ;  town  lines  had  to  be  run  and  settled, 
and  various  other  municipal  affairs  required  attention.  The 
town  was  a  local  Parish,  and  religious  and  moral  matters 
claimed  and  received  a  large  share  of  the  consideration  of 
the  settlers.  The  first  inhabitants  of  Gorham  Avere  deci- 
dedly a  religious  people.  Springing  from  the  old  Puritans 
of  Plymouth  Colony,  when  they  emigrated  they  took  with 
them  the  Puritan  faith,  customs,  manners,  and  religious 
ordinances.  It  required  men  like  the  Puritans  to  undertake 
and  carry  through  the  hazardous  enterprise  of  settling  new 
towns  among  savage  beasts  and  savage  men. 


Ki 


58  HISTORY    OF   GORHAM. 

Such  were  the  early  settlers  of  Gorham ;  they  were  a 
hardy,  enterprising,  courageous,  virtuous  race  of  men  and 
women,  distinguished  for  fortitude,  temperance  and  open- 
handed  hospitality  ;  and  above  all,  for  their  piety.  They 
were  deeply  conscious  that  true  religion  was  essential  to 
good  government,  and  the  permanent  welfare  of  the  commu- 
nity, they  spared  no  pains  to  support  the  gospel. 

At  the  very  first  meeting  of  the  Proprietors  in  this  town, 
in  a  poor  log  house,  surrounded  by  the  forest,  one  of  their 
first  votes  was  to  provide  for  preaching  and  religious  instruc- 
tion. Their  church  system  was  Congregational ;  they  were 
all,  (or  nearly  all)  orthodox  Congregationalists,  and  were 
zealous  for  what  they  considered  to  be  the  truth.  A  stern 
and  somewhat  severe  morality  prevailed  everywhere  among 
the  Puritans  ;  they  might  at  this  day  have  been  called  intol- 
erant in  their  religious  views  and  practices,  but  they  were 
in  this  respect,  like  other  sects  of  their  age.  They  never 
forgot  the  great  and  momentous  object  for  which  the  Pil- 
grims settled  in  New  England,  religious  freedom  and  liberty 
of  conscience. 

At  that  first  Proprietors'  meeting  they  voted,  "  That  a 
meeting  house  be  built  for  the  worship  of  God  in  said  town, 
36  feet  long  and  26  feet  wide,  with  a  20  feet  shed,  and  fifty 
shillino-s  on  a  rio-ht  of  land  was  voted  in  order  to  erect  said 
house,  and  to  clear  a  suitable  tract  of  land  to  set  the  same 
upon." 

At  the  next  meeting  it  was  voted,  "  That  twenty  rods 
square  be  cleared  on  the  west  side  of  the  way  called  King 
Street,  in  order  for  building  a  meeting  house  thereon."  So 
soon,  and  so  liberally  did  the  first  settlers  of  Gorham  make 
provision  for  religious  worship.  At  that  time,  (1741)  there 
were  not  more  than  twelve  or  fourteen  families  in  town.  In 
1764,  the  second  meeting  house  was  erected.  In  1792,  it 
was  voted,  "  To  enlarge  tlie  house  thirty  feet  to  the  south- 


PROGRESS    OF   THE    TOWN.  69 

ward."  In  1797,  it  was  voted,  "  To  dispose  of  the  old  meet- 
ing house  and  buikl  a  new  one."  In  1798,  the  Parish 
gave  "  the  Corner  School  Class  the  old  meeting  house, 
provided  the  said  Class  would  build  a  school  house  large 
enough  to  accommodate  the  town  to  do  their  town  busi- 
ness in." 

In  June,  1797,  the  present  meeting  house  of  the  First 
Parish  was  erected.  At  the  time  of  raising  the  frame,  a 
melancholy  accident  occurred — a  part  of  the  frame  gave 
way,  and  two  persons — Doct.  Nathaniel  Bowman  and  James 
Tryon — were  killed.  In  1828,  this  meeting  house  was  en- 
larged and  altered  ;  the  old  square  pews,  with  seats  hung 
with  hinges,  were  removed,  and  long  pews,  with  fixed  seats, 
introduced,  and  the  galleries  were  taken  away.  Another 
alteration  was  made  in  1848  ;  a  new  jDulpit  and  new  slips,  or 
pews,  without  doors,  were  constructed — several  new  pews 
added — windows,  with  large  squares  of  glass,  and  aisles  and 
slips,  completed — a  chandelier  and  a  clock  were  added. 
Previous  to  this  an  organ  was  introduced ;  since  then  gal- 
leries have  again  been  erected. 

Before  the  incorporation  of  the  town  in  1764,  preachers 
were  hired  by  the  proprietors,  aided  by  the  voluntary  con- 
tributions of  the  citizens. 


60  HISTORY    OF    GORHAM. 


CHAPTEE     VIII. 

ECCLESIASTICAL. 

The  first  clergyman  employed  in  Gorliam  was  a  Mr. 
Benjamin  Crocker  from  Cape  Cod  ;  lie  was  hired  for  six 
months  at  £3  10s.  per  week,  and  preached  here  from  Febru- 
ary 16th,  1743,  to  September  following,  when  he  was  paid 
<£60,  old  tenor,  (45  shillings  to  the  dollar.)  Mr.  Crocker 
o;raduated  at  Harvard  Colleo;e  in  1713. 

The  correspondence  with  Mr.  Crocker  was  by  a  commit- 
tee ;  their  letter  to  him  was  as  follows  : — 

"  For  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Crocker  at  Ipswitch,  per  Capt. 
Phinney : 

GoRHAMTOAVN,  SO  called,  Feb.  16,  1742-3. 
Mr.  Crocker,  Sir : — We,  the  subscribers.  Being  this  day 
at  a  Proprietors'  meeting,  Chosen  to  get  a  minister  to 
Preatch  to  the  Inhabitants  for  five  or  six  months  to  Come, 
and  We  are  informed  by  Mr.  Jno.  Phinney  that  you  signi- 
fied to  him  you  wold  come  and  Preatch  if  We  Desired  It : 
And  these  ai-e  to  Desier  you  to  come  and  Preach  there  the 
time  above  mentioned  or  Less  time  or  as  may  sute  your 
conveniency,  and  We  shall  Ecadily  pay  you  Reasonable 
Demands,  and  must  refer  you  to  Mr.  Jno.  Phinney  for  partic- 
ulars by  Whome  this  comes.  With  expectation  of  your  com- 
plyance,  we  remain  your  humble  Servants, 

MOSES  PEARSON, 
WM.  POTE, 
WM.  COTTON, 
BENJA.  SKILLINGS, 
JNO.  GORHAM. 


ECCLESIASTICAL.  61 

We,  the  subscribers,  Engage  to  pay  the  sum  of  three 
pounds,  ten  shillings.  Old  Tenor,  for  what  time  you  may 
preatch  to  the  above  Inhabitants,  that  is,  so  much  per  Sab- 
bath as  Sixty  pounds  will  satisfy,  there  being  so  much  voted 
for  that  use. 

MOSES  PEARSON, 
WM.  POTE, 
WM.  COTTON, 
JNO.  GORHAM, 
BENJA.  SKILLINGS." 

Then  follows  Mr.  Crocker's  account,  thus : 

"  An  account  of  what  I  received  for  preaching  at  Gor- 
hamtown. 


Of  Mr.  Cotton,         _         -        - 

Of  Mr.  Pote, 

Of  Mr.  Cobb,  for  Phinncy, 

Of  Mr.  Pearson,  -         -         - 

Of  Mr.  Jno.  Eager,  - 

Of  Mr.  Benja.  Sldllins, 

Of  Mr.  Benja.  Stevens,     - 

Of  Mr.  McAllen,  (McLellan?) 

Of  Mr.  Jeremiah  Hodgdon, 

Of  Capt.  Gorham, 

Of  Mr.  Pote,  for  boarding. 

Of  Mr.  Cotton,      -         -         - 

Of  Mr.  Cotton, 


Of  Mr.  Pearson,  - 


£ 

s. 

B. 

11 

10 

00 

2 

00 

00 

-   1 

00 

00 

5 

00 

00 

- 

10 

00 

3 

10 

00 

-   3 

10 

00 

3 

10 

00 

- 

10 

00 

10 

00 

-   9 

00 

00 

10 

00 

00 

-   5 

10 

00 

£56 

00 

00 

4 

00 

00 

£60 

00  00 

62  HISTORY   OF   GORHAM. 

Falmouth,  Sept.  19,  1743. 
Received  of  the  Committee  of  Gorhamtown,  sixty  pounds 
old  tenor,  which  is  in  full  for  preaching  at  Gorhamtown — 
I  say  received  per  me. 

BENJA.  CROCKER. 


MR.    LOMBARD. 

In  September,  1750,  the  proprietors  of  this  town  voted  to 
give  Mr.  Solomon  Lombard  a  call  to  settle  here  in  the 
work  of  the  gospel  ministry;  his  salary  was  to  be  X53  6s. 
8d.  annually,  and  to  receive  the  lots  of  land  reserved  for 
the  first  settled  minister,  and  the  use  of  the  parsonage  land 
during  his  ministry.  Lot  No.  57,  first  Division,  being  a  30 
acre  lot,  now  a  part  of  the  old  Phinney  farm,  on  Fort  Hill, 
where  the  family  of  George  Hunt  now  live,  was  confirmed 
to  him  and  his  heirs  for  one  of  the  minister  lots.  Mr.  Lom- 
bard was  a  native  of  Truro,  Cape  Cod,  and  graduated  at 
Harvard  College  in  1723.  He  was  ordained  at  Gorham, 
Dec.  26,  1750  ;  the  first  .settled  minister  of  Portland,  Rev. 
Thomas  Smith,  preached  the  ordination  sermon;  one  dollar 
on  each  right  of  land  in  Gorham  was  assessed  ($120)  to 
defray  the  expenses  of  the  ordination  ;  the  accounts  of  these 
^expenses  are  curious,  as  showing  what  articles  were  deemed 
necessary  for  an  ordination  dinner,  the  value  of  such  articles, 
.and  the  price  of  services.     Some  of  these  are  as  follows : 

£     s.     D. 

1  Barrel  of  Flour,         -         -        -         14  07  06 
3  Bushels  of  Apples,         -         -         -       2  08  00 

2  Barrels  of  Cider,        -         -         -  9  00  00 
2  Gallons  of  Brandy,        -         -        -       5  00  00 


ECCLESIASTICAL.  63 

£     s.     D. 

1  Bottle  of  Vinegar,      -  -        -               05  00 

29  Pounds  of  Sugar,           -  -         -       8  14  00 

1  Tea  Pot,  -----  1  10  00 
4  Gallons  of  Rum,    -         -  -         -       5  04  00 

2  Bushels  of  Cranberries,  -  -  2  00  00 
1  Pound  of  Tea,  -  -  -  -  10  00 
1      "       of  Ginger,        -  -         -  02  00 

Two  Cheeses,  6d.  per  lb  ;  54  1-2  lbs.  of  Pork,  7d.  per  lb. ; 
6  Candles,  Is.  ;  1  oz.  of  Nutmegs,  12d. ;  6  gallons  of  Mo- 
lasses, 23s.  8d.  per  gallon ;  3  Geese,  3  l-2d.  per  lb. ;  4  oz. 
Pepper,  6d. ;  8  Fowls,  36s.  ;  1-2  bushel  Onions,  and  1-2 
bushels  of  Potatoes. 

Two  bushels  of  cranberries  to  half  a  bushel  of  potatoes, 
would  at  this  day  seem  disproportionate,  and  the  brandy, 
rum,  and  cider,  would  hardly  be  expected  at  an  ordination 
dinner.  The  committee  to  furnish  supplies  were  Enoch 
Freeman,  Samuel  Moody  and  James  Milk.  Most  of  the 
articles  were  purchased  of  Enoch  Freeman.  One  person 
was  paid  for  eight  days  work  getting  up  the  stores,  for 
which  he  was  paid  £10  for  himself,  and  X4  for  horse  labor. 

John  Irish  was  paid  "  <£1  5s.  for  bringing  in  the  cow,  and 
10s.  for  killing  the  cow ;"  the  horse  keeping,  for  19  days 
and  nights,  was  X9  10s.  OOd.  Ten  days  work  of  women, 
cooking,  £5  00s.  OOd. 

The  Proprietors  and  inhabitants  of  the  town  were  A'cry 
well  united  in  desiring  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Lombard,  but 
this  unanimity  did  not  long  continue  ;  he  and  his  parishion- 
ers did  not  get  along  harmoniously.  In  March,  1757,  twen- 
ty-one of  his  hearers  addressed  a  letter  to  the  Proprietors, 
requesting  that  Mr.  Lombard  might  be  dismissed  ;  in  it  they 
say,  "  Our  Rev.  Pastor's  conduct  in  the  discipline  of  his 
church,  hath  had  such  an  evil  tendency  it  hath  weaned  our 
affections  from  him,  and  in  a  great  measure  spoilt  his  use- 


64  HISTORY   OF   GORHAM. 

fulness  towards  us."  They  also  complain  of  liis  setting 
neighbors  at  variance  Avith  each  other,  and  of  neglecting 
ministerial  duties  to  engage  in  secular  business  for  his  own 
benefit.  In  the  warrant  for  a  Proprietors'  meeting,  March 
11th,  1767,  one  of  the  articles  was  "  to  enquire  into  the 
grounds  of  the  difference  betwixt  the  Rev.  Mr.  Lombard  and 
the  inhabitants  of  this  town."  A  Council  was  called  to  en- 
deavor to  adjust  the  difficulties  ;  for  years,  however,  these 
difficulties  remained  unadjusted.  Terms  of  separation  were 
finally  agreed  upon,  and  Mr.  Lombard  was  dismissed  in 
1764.  During  Mr.  Lombard's  ministry  there  was  a  schism 
in  the  church,  and  a  Mr.  Townsend  preached  here  to  one 
section  of  the  people,  and  from  that  party  received  a  call  to 
settle.  A  Council  of  ministers  was  convened,  but  they  re- 
fused to  ordain  Mr.  Townsend  ;  whereupon  the  part  of  the 
church  favorable  to  Mr.  T.,  proceeded  to  ordain  him  ac- 
cording to  the  Cambridge  Platform.  Parson  Smith  in  his 
journal,  under  date  of  April  4,  1759,  says,  "  Mr.  Townsend 
was  ordained  at  Gorham ;  Capt.  Phinney  prayed  before  the 
charge,  and  Capt.  Morton  gave  it,  and  Townsend  did  all 
the  rest."  In  a  memoir  of  the  Honorable  Jeremiah  Grid- 
ley,  who  was  at  that  period  Attorney  General  of  Massachu- 
setts, I  find  the  following  incident  related : — 

"  About  the  year  1760,  a  Mr.  Lombard,  the  settled  min- 
ister of  the  Gospel  in  Gorham,  upon  some  uneasiness  which 
arose  between  him  and  the  people  of  his  charge,  had  a  dif- 
ficulty they  could  not  settle  ;  they  mutually  agreed  to  dis- 
solve the  connexion,  and  the  parsonage  being  valuable,  and 
under  culture,  he  was  to  have  its  improvement  until  they 
should  settle  another  minister,  and  Lombard,  who  was  a 
gentleman  of  education,  gave  a  bond  in  the  penal  sum  of 
two  or  three  thousand  pounds  to  Morton  and  Phinney,  two 
of  the  Elders,  or  Deacons,  that  upon  their  settling  another 
minister  he  would  deliver  up  the  parsonage.     In  the  space 


ECCLESIASTICAL.  65 

of  a  year  or  two,  an  illiterate  man  (Townsend)  received  a 
call  to  settle  with  them  and  become  their  minister.  None  of 
the  neighboring  ministers  or  churches  would  assist  in  his  or- 
daination,  and  thereupon  the  church  proceeded  to  ordain  him 
in  the  Congregational  way,  by  the  imposition  of  the  hands 
of  Morton  and  Phinney.  Afterwards,  a  suit  was  brought 
upon  the  bond  of  Lombard  at  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  ; 
the  case  was  argued  largely  by  counsel,  and  Mr.  Lombard 
added  something  to  what  his  counsel  had  said,  to  show  that 
the  man  inducted  to  office  was  not  tlie  minister  meant  and 
intended  by  the  bond.  The  verdict  was  against  Mr.  Lom- 
bard ;  he  appealed  to  the  Supreme  Court,  then  held  at 
York,  and  employed  Mr.  Gridley  for  his  counsel ;  Mr.  Grid- 
ley  introduced  a  plea,  reciting  the  grant  of  the  township, 
Avith  the  reservation  of  a  parsonage  for  the  use  of  ii  pious ^ 
learned  and  orthodox  minister,  and  averred  that  the  town 
had  not  settled  such  a  minister.  The  counsel  for  plaintiffs 
replied,  that  they  had  settled  another  pious,  orthodox  min- 
ister, omitting  the  word  learned.  The  answer  was  adjudged 
insufficient,  and  judgment  was  rendered  in  favor  of  Lom- 
bard." 

Whether  Mr.  Townsend  preached  longer  I  cannot  learn. 
He  died  at  Gorham,  Sept.  22d,  1762.  Mr.  Lombard  was 
dismissed  in  1764.  He  afterwards  became  an  Episcopalian, 
and  united  with  a  church  of  that  order,  and  died  at  Gor- 
ham in  1781,  leaving  numerous  descendants,  many  of  whom 
now  live  in  Gorham. 

After  Mr.  Lombard  ceased  preaching  in  Gorham,  he  was 
soon  engaged  in  public  business,  and  seems  to  have  been  a 
very  popular  man.  He  was  commissioned  a  Justice  of  the 
Peace  ;  he  was  largely  employed  by  the  Proprietors  of  the 
town,  and  in  County  business,  acting  on  important  commit- 
tees, surveying  and  locating  lands,  and  was  frequently  ap- 
pointed a  referee  in  difficult  cases.  He  was  the  first  Rep- 
9 


66  HISTORY    OF   GORHAM. 

resentative  of  Gorliam  In  the  General  Court  of  Massachu- 
setts, having  been  elected  in  1765,  the  next  year  after  he 
was  dismissed  from  his  pastoral  charge  ;  he  was  seven  years 
a  Representative  in  the  Legislature,  twice  a  Delegate  to  the 
Provincial  Congress,  a  Delegate  to  form  the  Constitution  of 
Massachusetts,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  and 
Vigilance  in  the  early  days  of  the  Revolution,  afterwards 
a  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  for  Cumberland 
County,  from  1776  to  1781,  when  he  died.  Mr.  Lombard 
was  an  active,  industrious,  useful  man,  a  gentleman  of  learn- 
ing, talents,  and  sound  sense. 

A  Mr.  Peltiah  Tingley  preached  in  Gorham  in  1765-6. 
He  was  invited  to  settle  as  a  pastor,  but  declined  the  call. 
Mr.  Tingley  subsequently  became  a  Free  Will  Baptist,  and 
settled  in  Waterborouoh  and  lived  to  an  advanced  age.  In 
1765,  £66,  13s.  4d.  Avas  voted  for  the  support  of  the  gos- 
pel in  Gorham,  and  several  town  meetings  were  held  for  the 
purpose  of  devising  ways  to  obtain  continuous  preaching  in 
the  town. 


MR.    THACHER. 

Mr.  Lombard  was  succeeded,  as  the  pastor  of  the  Con- 
gregational Parish,  by  the  Rev.  Josiah  Thacher.  Mr. 
Thacher  was  a  native  of  Lebanon,  Connecticut.  He  was  a 
graduate  of  Princeton  College,  New  Jersey.  He  preached 
in  Gorham,  as  a  candidate  twenty-four  Sabbaths,  and  was 
ordained  here,  October  28,  1767.  He  was  to  have  <£100 
lawful  money  as  a  settlement,  and  X80  per  year  while 
he  remained  pastor  of  the  Parish.  The  Parish  and  church 
were  nearly  unanimous  in  their  votes  to  settle  Mr.  Thacher 
on  these  terms. 


ECCLESIASTICAL.  67 

Difficulties  between  Mr.  Thacher  and  his  parishioners 
soon  arose.  Many  became  much  opposed  to  him,  and  some 
disreputable  scenes  occurred  ;  these  conflicts  exerted  an  un- 
favorable influence  on  religion  in  the  town,  and  led  to  many 
uncharitable  words  and  deeds.  A  new  religious  society, 
called  Baptists,  (resembling  the  Free  Will  Baptists,  but  not 
identical  with  that  sect,)  was  formed  in  town.  Also  a  so- 
ciety of  Friends,  and  a  society  of  Shakers.  ]\Iany  people 
would  not  pay  the  ministerial  tax  for  Mr.  Thacher's  sup- 
port, and  suits  were  commenced  to  coerce  payment.  These 
proceedings  exceedingly  irritated  Mr.  Thacher's  opponents. 
On  some  occasions  he  was  forcibly  prevented  from  entering 
the  meeting  house  to  preach.  Many  town  meetings  were 
held  on  this  subject.  At  one  of  which  it  was  voted,  "  That 
Mr.  Thacher  should  no  moi'e  hold  forth  or  carry  on  in  l^he 
pulpit." 

At  a  meeting  held  Nov.  29th,  1780,  Mr.  Amos  Whitney, 
Nathan  Whitney,  George  Hanscom,  Samuel  Crockett,  and 
Prince  Davis,  were  chosen  "  a  Committee  to  wait  on  Mr. 
Thacher  and  forbid  his  preaching  any  more  in  the  meeting 
house  or  any  where  else  in  Gorham,  under  the  pretence  of 
being  the  town's  minister,  "  as  both  church  and  town  have 
long  since  rejected  him  as  their  minister."  At  the  same 
meeting  it  was  voted,  "  That  if  Mr.  Thacher  disregard  the 
warning  from  said  Committee,  and  will  continue  to  preach 
and  hold  forth  in  the  meeting  house  as  minister,  then  in  that 
case,  said  Committee  shall  shut  up  the  meeting  house." 
Mr.  Thacher  gave  no  heed  to  the  warnino;  of  the  Commit- 
tee,  but  continued  to  preach.  The  Committee  fastened  up 
the  meeting  house.  Mr.  Thacher  and  his  friends,  the  next 
Sabbath,  by  the  aid  of  ladders,  entered  the  meeting  house, 
and  held  the  usual  services.  The  Committee  then  souoht 
legal  advice,  and  were  told  that  they  themselves  were  tres- 
passers and  were  liable  to  prosecution.     Ilis  o[)poucnts  then 


QS  HISTORY    OF    GORHAM. 

tried  to  persuade  Mr.  Thacher  to  resign.  At  a  town  meet- 
ing held  in  February,  1781,  Prince  Davis,  Capt.  Samuel 
Whitmore  and  Mr.  Samuel  Harding,  were  chosen  a  Com- 
mittee to  make  proposals  to  Mr.  Thacher,  and  settle  the 
conditions  [on  which  his  pastoral  relations  might  be  dis- 
solved. This  Committee  went  about  their  business,  treated 
Mr.  Thacher  in  a  gentlemanly  way,  and  were  met  in  the  same 
spirit.  Their  meetings  were  numerous,  and  the  whole  mat- 
ter thoroughly  discussed  and  weighed.  The  result  was  that 
the  town  should  pay  Mr.  Thacher  £307,  or  secure  the  pay- 
ment at  a  given  time,  and  when  that  should  be  done,  he 
agreed  to  ask  and  receive  a  dismissal ;  and  he  was  dismissed 
in  April,  1781.  Like  his  predecessor,  Mr.  Lombard,  he 
was  employed  almost  imauediately  in  political  life,  and  laid 
aside  the  title  of  Reverend  for  that  of  Honorable ;  he  did 
a  large  business  as  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  ;  was  a  Repre- 
sentative from  the  town  of  Gorham  to  the  General  Court 
eleven  years,  then  Senator  from  Cumberland  County,  and  a 
Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  from  1784  to  1799, 
the  year  he  died.  His  death  occurred  Dec.  25,  of  that 
year.  Mr.  Thacher  was  a  descendant  of  Anthony  Thacher, 
who  was  among  the  early  emigrants  to  New  England. 


CALEB     JEWETT. 

Rev.  Caleb  Jewctt  was  the  next  Congregational  minister 
settled  in  Gorham.  He  was  a  native  of  Newburyport, 
Mass.  ;  he  graduated  at  Dartmouth  College  in  1776.  At  a 
town  meeting,  (the  whole  town  being  a  territorial  Parish) 
held  August  13,  1781,  it  was  voted,  "  That  Austin  Alden 
go  to  Newbury  Port  and  request  Mr.  Caleb  Jewett  to  preach 
in  this  toAvn  three  months."     And  Oct.  15,  1781,  "  Voted 


ECCLESIASTICAL.  69 

unanimously  to  improve  either  Mr.  Caleb  Jewett,  or  Mr. 
Joseph  Littlefield  as  a  candidate  for  pastor ;"  and  then 
voted,  "  That  Mr.  Austin  Alden  wait  on  Mr.  Jewett,  and 
invite  him  to  preach  six  months."  At  a  town  meeting  held 
January  28,  1782,  it  was  "Voted  unanimously  (except  one) 
to  concur  with  the  church  in  requesting  Mr.  Caleb  Jewett 
to  settle  in  the  work  of  the  gospel  ministry  in  this  town." 
And  at  the  same  time  the  town  "  Voted  to  pay  Mr.  Jewett 
one  hundred  pounds  salary,  so  long  as  he  continue  in  the 
ministry  in  this  town."  At  the  same  time  "  Voted  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty-three  pounds,  six  shillings  and  eight  pence 
settlement  for  Mr.  Jewett."  This  attempt  to  settle  Mr. 
Jewett  failed.  New  negotiations  were  set  on  foot  with  Mr. 
Jewett  the  next  year,  (1783.)  The  town  voted  in  addition 
to  the  sums  before  voted,  to  give  Mr.  Jewett  twenty-four 
cords  of  wood  annually,  to  be  cut  and  delivered  at  his  door, 
and  to  fence  the  Parsonage  lots  (a  thirty  acre  lot,  and  one 
hundred  acre  lot)  for  Mr.  Jewett's  use."  Mr.  Jewett  ac- 
cepted the  call  on  these  conditions,  and  was  ordained  pastor 
of  the  Congregational  Society,  Nov.  5,  1783. 

Like  his  predecessor,  Mr.  Jewett  had  many  difficulties 
with  his  church  and  parish.  After  a  long  negotiation  about 
the  terms  of  his  dismission,  his  final  separation  from  his 
people  took  place  Sept.,  1800.  He  resigned  his  connection 
on  the  condition  of  the  town's  paying  him  a  certain  sum  of 
money,  and  exempting  his  property  from  taxation  for  a  spe- 
cified number  of  years.  When  the  town  passed  these  votes, 
and  they  were  sent  to  Mr.  Jewett,  he  sent  a  written  reply 
to  the  town  meeting,  saying, — 

"  I  accept  your  conditions  and  resign  my  ministerial  of- 
fice, and  consider  it  my  jubilee.  Multum  Guadio  !  Gua- 
dio  3Iultu7n!  So  I  subscribe  myself  as  one  worn  out  in 
the  service  of  God,  and  yours.         CALEB  JEWETT." 

Mr.  Jewett  died  in  Gorham,  April  16,  1802. 


70  HISTORY    OF    GORIIAM. 

JEREMIAH     NOTES. 

The  next  Conjrreo-ational  minister  settled  in  Gorham  was 
Rev.  Jeremiah  Noyes ;  he  was  a  native  of  Newburyport, 
and  graduated  at  Dartmouth  College  in  1799,  and  was  or- 
dained at  Gorham,  Nov.  16,  1803.  One  condition  of  Mr. 
Noyes'  settlement  was,  that  he  should  take  a  dismission 
whenever  two-thirds  of  the  legal  voters  of  the  Parish,  at  a 
legal  meeting  had  for  that  purpose,  should  request  it ;  six 
months  notice  to  be  given.  During  Mr.  Noyes'  ministry  he 
lived  on  amicable  terms  with  his  people  ;  there  seems  to 
have  been  no  fault  found  from  any  quarter,  and  he  died, 
very  much  regretted,  January  15,  1807,  aged  28  years. 


ASA     RAND. 

Rev.  Asa  Rand  succeeded  Mr.  Noyes  as  minister  of  this 
Parish.  He  was  born  at  Rindge,  N.  H. ;  graduated  at  Dart- 
mouth College  in  1806,  and  Avas  ordained  at  Gorham,  Janu- 
ary 18,  1809.  He  was  to  receive  ^680  per  year  for  four 
years,  and  afterwards  $600  annually.  Mr.  Rand  was  a 
sedate,  industrious  man,  a  hard  student,  a  strong,  lucid 
writer,  and  a  solemn  preacher.  He  was  strenuously  ortho- 
dox in  principle,  uniform  and  inflexible  in  maintaining  those 
views  which  he  deemed  right,  but  never  impetuous  or  rash ; 
he  was  a  gentleman  of  learning  and  abihty.  In  consequence 
of  bodily  infirmity,  he  asked  a  release  from  his  charge,  and 
was  dismissed,  by  an  ecclesiastical  council,  June  12,  1822. 
During  Mr.  Rand's  pastorate,  73  females  and  21  males  were 
added  to  the  church.  After  Mr.  Rand's  dismissal  he  edited 
the  Christian  Mirror,  then  the  Boston  Recorder,  afterwards 
.the  LoAvell  Observer — subsequently  he  resided  many  years 


ECCLESIASTICAL.  71 

in  Western  New  York,  and  now  (18G2)  lives  again  in  NeAv 
Eno-land. 


TIIADDEUS     POME  HOY. 

On  the  same  day  that  Mr.  Eand  was  dismissed,  and  by 
the  same  Council,  Rev.  Thaddeus  Pomeroy  was  installed  as 
Pastor  over  the  Congregational  Church  and  Parish  in  Gor- 
ham.  Mr.  Pomeroy  was  a  native  of  South  Hampton,  Mass., 
graduated  at  Williams  College,  and  studied  theology  at 
Andover.  He  was  first  settled  in  the  ministry  at  Randolph, 
Mass.,  some  years  before  he  came  to  Gorham.  He  was  a 
man  of  exemplary  diligence  ;  often  out  of  health,  but  ever 
industrious.  While  he  was  pastor  here,  a  large  number  were 
added  to  the  church ;  72  in  1831.  Mr.  Pomeroy  did  much 
to  promote  education,  and  was  indefatigable  in  his  efforts  to 
establish  and  endow  the  Female  Seminary  in  this  town. 
Mr.  Pomeroy  was  dismissed  Nov.  24,  1839.  He  removed 
to  Pompey,  in  Western  New  York,  and  afterwards  re- 
moved to  De  Witt,  near  Syracuse,  and  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits.    He  died  there  April  14, 1858,  aged  76  years. 


JOHN    S.    DAVENPORT. 

Was  the  eighth  settled  minister  of  the  First  Parish  in 
this  town ;  he  came  from  New  York,  and  was  a  merchant 
before  he  preached.  He  was  installed  at  Gorham  July  16, 
1840,  and  was  dismissed,  on  his  own  request,  July  16, 1842, 
Mr.  Davenport  came  to  the  belief  that  the  Apostolical  form 
of  church  government  was  Episcopal,  and  that  no  person 


72  HISTORY   OF   GORHAM. 

coiild  be  properly  ordained  except  by  a  Bishop ;  bence  be 
felt  that  it  was  wrong  to  be  a  Congregational  pastor  when 
in  fact  he  was  an  Episcopalian.  Soon  after  bis  dismission 
from  Gorham,  be  was  ordained  by  a  Bishop  and  preached  in 
Newburyport.  Afterwards  he  was  settled  in  Ogdensburg, 
N.  Y. ;  being  again  dismissed,  he  returned  to  New  York 
and  again  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits. 


AARON     C.    ADAMS. 

Rev.  Aaron  C.  Adams  succeeded  Mr.  Davenport  as  pastor 
over  the  First  Parish  here.  He  was  from  Bangor,  Me.,  and 
graduated  at  Bowdoin  College  in  1836.  He  was  ordained 
at  Gorham,  Oct.  5,  1842,  and  was  dismissed  in  November, 
1845.  Ill  health  was  the  cause  of  his  resigning  his  pastoral 
relation.  Mr.  Adams  was  afterwards  settled  at  West  Bloom- 
field  in  New  Jersey.  Subsequently  he  was  settled  at  Man- 
chester, New  Hampshire,  and,  being  dismissed  from  there, 
he  is  again  livino-  in  Maine. 


JOHN    R.    ADAMS. 

The  tenth  Congregational  clergyman  in  this  Parish  was 
Rev.  John  R.  Adams,  a  native  of  Andover,  Mass.  ;  he  grad- 
uated at  Yale  College  in  1821 ;  studied  Theology  at  Divinity 
College,  Andover,  Mass.  He  was  settled  firstly  at  London- 
derry, N.  H. ;  then  at  Brighton,  Mass.,  and  thirdly  in  this 
town ;  he  was  installed  in  Gorham,  June  4,  1847,  and  his 
pastoral  relation  to  this  people  wsls  dissolved  Dec.  1,  1858. 
Mr.  Adams  is  now  (1862)  serving  as  Chaplain  to  the  Fifth 


ECCLESIASTICAL.  73 

Regiment  of  Maine  Volunteers  in  the  Fetleral  army  on  the 
Potomac. 


STEPHEN     C.     ST  KONG. 

Is  the  eleventh  and  present  Congregational  minister  of 
the  First  Parish  in  this  town  ;  he  is  a  native  of  North  Hamp- 
ton, Mass.,  a  grandson  of  Gov.  Caleb  Strong.  Mr.  Strong 
graduated  at  Williams  College  in  1845  ;  he  studied  Theolo- 
gy in  the  Union  Theological  Seminary  in  New  York  City. 
He  was  first  settled  at  South  Hampton,  Mass.,  and  being 
dismissed  from  his  parochial  charge  there,  he  was  installed 
at  Gorham  February  15,  1869. 


The  following  is  a  list  of  Congregational  clergymen,  who 
have  been  settled  in  Gorham,  Avith  the  dates  of  their  settle- 
ment and  dismission  or  death. 

1.  Solomon  Lombard,  ordained  December  26,  1750,  dis- 
missed August  15,  1764. 

2.  Josiah  Thacher,  ordained  October  28,  1767,  dismissed 
April  28,  1781. 

3.  Caleb  Jewett,  ordained  November  5,  1783,  dismissed 
Sept.  8,  1800. 

4.  Jeremiah  Noyes,  ordained  November  16,  1803,  died 
January  15,  1807. 

5.  Asa  Rand,  ordained  January  18, 1809,  dismissed  June 
12,  1822. 

6.  Thaddeus  Pomeroy,  installed  June  12,  1822,  dismissed 
November  24,  1839. 

10 


74  HISTORY    OP    GORHAM. 

7.  John  L.  Davenport,  installed  Jnly  IG,  1840,  dismissed 
July  16,  1842. 

8.  Aaron  C.  Adams,  ordained  October  5,  1842,  dismissed 
November  4,  1845. 

9.  John  R.  Adams,  installed  June  4,  1847,  dismissed  De- 
cember 1,  1858. 

10.  Stephen  C.  Strong,  installed  February  15,  1860. 
April  4,  1759,  Mr.  Ebenezer  Townsend,  ordained  by  one 

division  of  the  church ;  Mr,  Townsend  died  in  Gorham  in 
1762. 

For  a  few  years  after  the  organization  of  the  Congrega- 
tional church  in  this  town,  they  had  Ruling  Elders  ;  they 
were  Edmund  Phinney,  Hugh  McLellan,  and  Joseph  Gates. 
The  following  persons  have  been  the  Deacons :  Stephen 
Phinney,  Eliphalet  Watson,  James  McLellan,  Austen  Al- 
den,  George  Lewis,  Thomas  Cross,  Samuel  Paine,  James 
McLellan,  2d,  Thos.  S.  Robie,  Nahum  Chadbourne,  Enoch 
Cross,  Marshal  Irish,  Edward  P.  Weston,  Nathaniel  Brown, 
Horatio  H.  Merrill,  Edward  Robie,  and  Thomas  Jameson. 

The  brick  Vestry,  or  Conference  House  of  the  First  Par- 
ish, was  built  in  1826,  principally  by  a  liberal  donation  of 
$500  from  Deacon  Thomas  S.  Robie. 


ECCLESIAteTlCAL.  75 


CHAPTER    IX. 

BAPTISTS. 

The  Baptists  (Free  Will)  first  came  into  notice  in  this 
town  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Josiali  Thacher  over  the 
Congregational  church.  These  Baptists  were  by  other  peo- 
ple then  called  Neio  Lights.  They  had  many  preachers — 
no  one  officiating  long  in  Gorham.  They  were  very  earnest 
men.  A  number  of  these,  calling  themselves  Baptists,  in 
1780-1,  afterwards  became  Shakers,  some  Friends,  and  some 
Methodists.  Samuel  Brown,  John  and  William  Cotton, 
James  McCollister  (McCorison,)  Amos  and  Lemuel  Rich, 
Jacob  H.  Clements,  some  of  the  Freemans,  were  among  the 
earliest  and  most  active  members  of  the  Baptist  Society  in 
its  early  days  in  Gorham.  Many  became  disaffected  to 
"  the  Standing  Order,"  as  the  Congregationalists  were  then 
called,  and  protested  against  paying  Parish  taxes,  and  prob- 
ably some  nominally  joined  the  New  Lights  for  the  sole 
purpose  of  evading  taxation  ;  the  larger  part  were  undoubt- 
edly conscientiously  opposed  to  Congregational  doctrines  and 
polity.  The  enthusiastic  New  Light  chose  to  preach  for 
himself.  He  talked  much  against  ministers  being  qualified 
to  preach  by  book  learning,  and  disdained  the  idea  of  study- 
ing for  the  ministry,  contending  that  God  would  choose 
and  qualify  his  own  preachers.  Their  numbers  in  Gorham 
increased  rapidly ;  they  held  meetings,  and  leaders  soon 
showed  themselves.    They  became  much  excited  ;  every  one. 


76  HISTORY    OF    GORHA^r. 

who  chose,  became  a  public  speaker,  to  exhort  men  and  ex- 
pound the  Scriptures.  They  publicly  denounced  the  paid 
clergy.  Their  speakers  were  often  vociferous,  their  meet- 
ings sometimes  disorderly  ;  their  converts  freuqently  violent 
in  their  gesticulations  ;  whirling  around  and  swooning  were 
not  unusual  in  their  meetings.  They  were  decided  in  their 
opposition  to  finery  or  ornament  in  dress  and  fashionable 
amusements.  Like  most  sects  in  their  early  days,  they  had 
their  eccentricities  ;  but  they  were  sincere  and  devout,  and 
time  and  "  the  sober  second  thought"  moulded  them  into 
an  orderly  and  respectable  religious  society  ;  and  so  they 
have  remained. 

The  first  Free  Will  Baptist  church  in  this  town  was  or- 
ganized, and  their  first  meeting  house  built  at  Fort  Hill, 
where  they  still  have  a  house  for  worship.  This  denomina- 
tion has  two  other  houses  for  public  worship  in  town,  one 
at  Little  Falls  villao;e  and  one  at  White  Rock  neighborhood. 
They  have  had  many  clergymen  to  preach ;  and  quite  a 
number  of  Free  Will  Baptist  ministers  have  been  natives  of 
Gorliam.  Among  the  most  prominent  was  Rev.  Clement 
Phinney,  a  grandson  of  Col.  E.  Phinney.  Elder  Benjamin 
Randall,  the  father  of  the  denomination  in  this  country,  oc- 
casionally preached  here  ;  so  did  Elder  Weeks,  Elder  Jo- 
seph White,  Eider  Jolui  Buzzell,  and  others. 

They  tried  year  after  year  to  induce  the  town  to  exempt 
them  from  paying  ministerial  taxes  ;  they  became  so  numer- 
ous and  powerful  that  the  town  at  length  listened  to  their 
petitions.  And  .at  a  legal  town  meeting,  held  on  the  14th 
day  of  June,  1781,  the  following  vote  was  passed  :  "  Voted, 
All  the  inhabitants  of  Gorham,  avIio  are  of  a  different  de- 
nomination to  the  Congregational,  are  to  be  excluded  pay- 
ing any  future  charges  towards  supplying  the  Desk  in  Gor- 
ham Meeting  house,  only  upon  bringing  a  certificate  from 
the   heads  of  either   of  the  opposite  societies,   in   Gorham, 


ECCLESIASTICAL. 


77 


called  Baptists,  in  two  months  from  this  date."  Within  the 
prescribed  time,  and  on  the  town  book  is  this  record  :  "  The 
following  is  a  list  of  the  persons  in  Gorham,  who  call  them- 
selves Baptists,  according  to  their  own  return,  given  in  to 
the  Selectmen,  agreeable  to  a  vote  passed  the  14th  of  June, 
1781." 

"To  the  Selectmen  of  Gorham  —  Gents:  —  These  may 
certify,  that  the  persons,  whose  names  are  in  the  following 
List,  arc  in  our  opinion,  cleared  from  paying  to  yo  support  of 
ye  Congregational  ]Ministry  in  the  town,  both  by  law,  and 
agreeable  to  a  vote  of  the  town  passed  sometime  in  June 
last,  they  attending  our  meeting,  and  desiring  their  names 
to  be  entered  in  the  certificate  to  yourselves." 


Daniel  Hebard,  Pastor, 
Andrew  Crockett, 
Elisha  Strout, 
Capt.  Briant  Morton, 
Andrew  Cobb, 
Nicholas  Cobb, 
Jedediah  Cobb, 
Andrew  Cobb,  Jr., 
Daniel  Cobb, 
Nath'l  Edwards, 
Ephraim  Plunt, 
Peletiah  Crocket, 
Moses  Hanscom, 
Samuel  Crocket,  Jr., 
James  Bangs, 
Jno.  Foy, 
Jona.  Freeman, 
Cary  McLellan, 
Nathan  Freeman, 


William  Cotton, 
Nath'l  Freeman, 
Eben'r  Morton, 
Samuel  Thomes, 
Samuel  Brown, 
Joshua  Harding, 
Ebenezer  Hamblen, 
Barnabas  Kich, 
Lemuel  Rich, 
Josiah  Whitney, 
Samuel  Harding,  Jr., 
Gershom  Hamblen, 
Nathaniel  Muckford, 
Aaron  Whitney, 
William  Monsou, 
Ezekiel  Rich, 
Nath'l  Stevens, 
Joseph  Whitney, 
Jereli.  Hodsdon, 


Elders  of  the  Ea'>tcru  BapLlsL  Church  hi  Gorham. 


m 

78  HISTORY    OF    GORHAM. 

George  Hamblen,  Isaac  Elder, 

Caleb  Lombard,  John  Carsley, 

Capt.  Hart  Williams,  Decker  Phinney, 

Daniel  Gammon,  Stephen  Swett, 

James  Gilkey,  Joseph  Stone, 

William  Lakeman,  Joel  Sawyer, 

Jona.  Crocket,  Calvin  Lombard, 

Jabez  Morton,  Barnabas  Bangs, 

James  McCorison,  Thomas  Bangs, 

Joel  Rich,  Lemuel  Hicks, 

William  Files,  John  Silla, 

Samuel  Elder,  Joseph  Brackett, 

William  Marks,  Benja.  Stevens, 
Eli  Webb. 

These  persons  were  exempted  from  payment  of  ministerial 
taxes  for  a  few  years,  but  others,  who  it  was  said  did  not 
g;et  certificates  or  Avho  did  not  hand  them  to  the  Selectmen 
seasonably,  were  still  assessed,  and  the  matter  was  again 
brought  into  the  town  meetings  ;  and  an  article  was  in  a 
warrant  for  a  town  meeting  in  1787,  "  To  see  what  method 
the  town  will  take  with  sundry  persons  that  think  them- 
selves aggrieved  in  paying  ministerial  taxes,  and  whether 
-they  will  excuse  a  whole  or  a  part  of  them  ?"  The  town 
<^hose  Edmund  Phinney,  Esq.,  Austen  Alden,  George  Lewis, 
James  Phinney,  and  Nathaniel  Frost,  to  report  on  that  mat- 
ter at  an  adjourned  meeting.  This  Committee  held  several 
meetings  and  finally  made  the  following  Report : — 

"  We,  the  subscribers,  beg  leave  to  report  to  the  town  as 
follows,  viz. :  We  have  met  a  committee  of  those  called  the 
Anabaptist  Society  in  Gorham,  and  heard  all  they  had  to 
offer.  Patiently  and  Candidly,  and  are  of  opinion  that  if  any 
person  in  Gorham  of  that  Society,  or  of  any  different  denom- 
ination from  the  Congregational,  who  is  a  public  Protestant 


ECCLESIASTICAL.  79 

teacher  of  Piety,  Religion,  and  Morality,  agreeable  to  the 
Constitution,  should  produce  a  certificate,  or  List,  to  the 
Town,  of  any  number  of  persons,  (Inhabitants  of  Gorham  ?) 
Avho  are,  in  his  opinion,  conscientiously  of  his  Society,  and 
do  constantly  attend  upon  Instruction,  that  in  that  case  Ave 
would  recommend  to  the  town  to  exempt  all  those  persons 
from  paying  to  any  Congregational  minister  in  said  Gorham." 
The  town  passed  a  vote  in  accordance  Avith  this  Eeport,  but 
it  Avas  too  strict  for  those  Avho  Avished  to  use  a  Baptist  name 
merely  to  avoid  paying  a  ministerial  tax.  The  officiating 
Baptist  clergyman  or  teacher  would  not  certify  that  those 
persons,  who  only  occasionally  attended  their  ministrations 
and  in  their  daily  life  did  not  exhibit  any  decided  religious 
opinions,  or  lead  Adrtuous  lives,  were  "  conscientiously  of 
their  Society y 

In  a  town  meeting  called  in  November,  1788,  there  Avas 
an  article  in  the  warrant  "  To  see  if  the  toAvn  Avill  exempt 
any  person  or  number  of  persons  in  Gorham,  (being  of  the 
Baptist  Denomination)  from  paying  taxes  to  a  Congrega- 
ational  minister  in  Gorham."  And  another  article  AA-as  "  To 
see  if  the  toAATi  Avill  vote  that  Mr.  James  McAllister  shall  be 
discharged  from  paying  any  State,  County,  or  Toaa-u  taxes 
in  Gorham,  on  account  of  his  being  a  Baptist  minister." 

The  ToAvn  Avould  not  consider  these  requests,  but  dis- 
missed both  articles. 

In  1789,  there  Avas  an  article  in  a  warrant  for  a  Toaa'h 
meeting,  "  To  see  if  the  Toaati  aa-iII  vote  that  the  Baptist 
Society  be  set  off  by  themselves,  in  order  that  they  may  be 
incorporated  into  a  separate  Parish." 

The  ToAA'n  meeting  dismissed  that  article. 

In  February  1790,  a  Petition,  signed  by  George  Thomes 
and  about  60  other  male  citizens  of  Gorham,  Avas  presented 
to  the  General  Court,  praying  to  be  incorporated  into  a  sep- 
arate Parish,  stating  that  they  had  erected  a  house  for  pub- 


80  HISTORY    OF    GORHAM. 

lie  worship,  and  had  a  public  Teacher,  and  had  assembled 
and  steadily  kej^t  up  public  worship  for  seven  years,  and  did 
not  and  could  not  conscientiously  attend  upon  the  instruc- 
tions of  the  Congregational  minister  ;  yet  the  Town  of  Gor- 
ham  assessed  them,  and  distrained  their  property  to  support 
the  Congregational  worship. 

Notice  was  ordered  on  this  petition,  returnable  at  the 
next  General  Court.  To  this  petition  the  Town  made  no 
objection,  and  the  petitioners  and  their  associates  were  made 
a  separate  Parish.  The  following  named  persons  have  been 
Free  Will  Baptist  preachers  in  Gorham : — Daniel  Hebard, 
James  McCollister,  Samuel  Hutchinson,  Clement  Phinney, 
Andrew  Rollins,  James  M.  Buzzell,  and  some  others. 


ECCLESIASTICAL.  81 


CHAPTER     X. 

y  METHODISTS. 

This  now  large  and  respectable  denomination  of  Chris- 
tians, was  unknown  in  Gorham,  till  somewhere  between 
1790  and  1800.  Rev.  Jesse  Lee  is  believed  to  have  been 
the  first  Methodist  preacher  that  came  into  this  part  of  the 
State  ;  he  passed  through  Gorham,  and  called  on  Rev.  Sam- 
uel Thomes,  a  Free  Will  Baptist  Elder.  Mr.  Thomes  in- 
vited him  to  preach  at  the  Fort  Hill  meeting  house ;  Mr. 
Lee  consented,  and  preached  there  a  few  times ;  but  Mr. 
Thomes  not  agreeing  with  Mr.  Lee  with  respect  to  church 
government,  thought  best  not  to  have  Mr.  Lee  preach  in  his 
church  any  more.  This  was  prior  to  1800.  Mr.  Timothy 
Merritt,  Asa  Heath,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Hubbard,  were  early 
preachers  of  Methodism  in  this  town.  Rev.  Joshua  Taylor 
preached  here  as  early  as  1803.  There  was  an  article  in 
the  warrant  for  a  Parish  meeting  held  in  September,  1801, 
"  To  see  if  the  Parish  will  direct  the  Assessors  to  abate  the 
Parish  taxes  of  those  persons  who  have  obtained  certificates 
from  a  Methodist  Preacher."  The  Parish  voted  to  dismiss 
the  article.  At  a  Parish  meeting  held  in  April,  1803,  it  was 
voted,  "  That  when  the  Methodists  produce  a  certificate  to 
the  Parish  Assessors,  agreeably  to  law,  they  may  omit  tax- 
ing such  persons."  Mr.  James  Lewis,  a  man  higlily  resjDCC- 
table  in  abilities,  character,  and  connexions,  and  of  a  good 
property,  about  this  time  became  a  convert  to  the  Methodist 
11 


82  HISTORY    OF    GORHAM. 

doctrines  and  principles,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Methodist 
church,  bj  Rev.  Asa  Heath.  Mr.  Lewis  soon  became  a 
preacher,  and  through  a  long  life,  was  an  earnest,  zealous, 
persevering  minister  of  the  Methodist  persuasion,  and  prob- 
ably did  more  than  any  other  person  to  increase  and  estab- 
lish Methodism  in  Gorham  and  the  vicinity.  He  itiner- 
ated extensively  in  this  and  adjoining  counties,  and  was  in- 
strumental in  turning  many  from  profanity,  dissipation,  and 
other  vices ;  his  great  fluency  of  speech,  powerful  voice, 
and  evident  sincerity,  gathered  him  large  audiences,  and  his 
kind,  social  qualities,  made  him  acceptable  wherever  he  went. 
I  am  not  aware  that  he  was  ever  strictly  a  circuit  preacher, 
or  had  a  pastoral  charge  over  any  local  church.  Mr.  Lewis 
was  an  ardent  friend  of  temperance,  and  labored  much  and 
successfully  to  promote  the  cause  ;  he  was  highly  respected 
by  all  religious  societies.  He  closed  his  active  and  useful 
life  in  Gorham,  Aug.  20,  1855,  at  the  age  of  85  years. 

The  first  Methodist  Class  formed  in  Gorham  was  in  the 
neio;hborho'od  of  the  north  meeting;  house  :  Ebenezer  Lom- 
bard,  afterwards  a  preacher,  was  the  first  class  leader  in 
town  ;  he  was  appointed  by  the  Rev.  Timothy  Merritt.  The 
Methodists  have  now  two  meeting  houses,  and  two  large 
societies  in  Gorham. 

It  was  not  the  polity  of  this  denomination  to  have  their 
clergymen  preach  to  the  same  parish  or  society  longer  than 
two  or  three  years  successively,  hence  there  have  been  a 
large  number  of  Methodist  ministers  stationed  in  this  town. 
Between  1803  and  1833,  Alfred  Metcalf,  Joel  Wicker,  Philip 
Munger,  David  Stinson,  Samuel  Thompson,  Caleb  Fogg, 
Samuel  Hillman,  Enoch  Jaques,  Joel  Winch,  Eben'r  Blake, 
Benj.  Bishop,  Philip  Ayer,  Daniel  Filmore,  John  Paine, 
John  Lindsey,  John  Adams,  John  Wilkinson,  James  Jaques, 
Isaac  Ames,  Joshua  Randall,  John  Lewis,  Peter  Burges, 
Gilman  Moody,  Job  Pratt,  Melville  B.  Cox,  John  Shaw, 


ECCLESIASTICAL.  83 

Plilnehas  Crandell,  K.  E.  Schermerliorn,  Aaron  Sanderson, 
Justin  Spaulding,  and  Daniel  Fuller  ;  and  there  has  been  a 
stated  supply  of  Methodist  preachers  since. 


FRIENDS     OR     QUAKERS. 

At  the  commencement  of  this  century,  there  was  a  small 
but  respectable  society  of  Friends  in  Gorham  ;  among  whom 
were  Wm.  Burton,  Jedediah  Cobb,  William  Cobb,  Charles 
Bangs,  James  Bangs,  Stephen  Harris,  Decker  Phinney, 
John  Horton,  and  Robert  Estes,  as  prominent  men.  They 
had  a  small  meeting  house,  and  kept  up  public  worship. 
The  society  has  diminished,  and  but  few  of  the  denomina- 
tion remain  in  town. 


SHAKERS. 

This  denomination  were  never  numerous  in  Maine.  Sixty 
years  ago  they  had  a  small  society  in  Gorham.  Somewhere 
about  1780,  a  man  and  woman  of  this  persuasion,  came  from 
New  Hampshire  to  this  town  and  held  meetings  ;  many  went 
to  hear  their  novel  doctrines.  A  Mr.  Brown,  then  living 
near  Avhat  is  now  called  West  Gorham,  became  a  proselyte  ; 
others  soon  joined  him,  and  they  formed  a  society ;  Mr. 
Brown  became  a  leadino-  man  among  them.  Barnabas 
Bangs  and  Thomas  Bangs  were  Elders.  They  united  their 
means,  purchased  a  large  farm,  and  erected  capacious  build- 
ings, where  Capt.  Nelson  Merrill  now  lives.  About  1810' 
a  part  of  the  society  removed  to  Alfred.  About  six  or 
eight  years  afterwards,  the  remaining   Shakers   sold  their 


84  IIISTOKY    OF    GORHAM. 

possessions  In  Gorliam,  and  went  to  Poland  and  New  Glou- 
cester. 

There  have  been,  and  still  are,  a  few  Calvinistic  Baptists, 
Unitarians  and  Universalists  ;  but  they  have  never  had 
stated  preaching,  or  a  church  organization  in  the  place. 


EDUCATIONAL.  85 


CHAPTEK    XI. 

EDUCATION. 

The  people  of  this  town  have  not  been  mattentive  to  the 
subject  of  education.  Before  the  incorporation  of  the  town, 
the  proprietors  and  settlers  made  provision  for  schools.  At 
the  first  town  meeting  in  March,  1765,  .£40  was  voted  for 
schools.  At  that  period,  only  one  public  school  was  kept 
in  town.  In  1768,  the  town  "  Voted  to  improve  Mr.  John 
Greene  as  schoolmaster,  till  the  money  tax  Is  expended." 
James  Ross,  a  foreigner,  taught  a  school  here  in  1770.  The 
first  female  teacher  in  town,  was  the  wife  of  Thomas  Wes- 
ton. 

As  the  population  increased,  larger  sums  were  voted  for 
instruction  ;  even  in  1778,  when  most  of  our  men  were  in 
the  army,  and  many  families  were  sorely  pressed  to  obtain 
the  necessaries  of  life,  £100  was  raised  for  schools  ;  in  1793, 
£200;  in  1800,  1850;  in  1809,  $1000;  in  1812,  11500; 
and  latterly,  not  less  than  $2000  annually  have  been  voted 
and  paid  out  for  the  support  of  common  schools  in  Gorham, 
in  addition  to  the  town's  proportion  of  Bank  tax,  which  is 
about  $150  per  year,  and  the  amount  paid  for  private 
schools,  is  not  less  than  $200  per  year.  There  are  twenty- 
five  school  districts  in  town.  Learning;  has  ever  received 
liberal  encourajxement  from  the  citizens  of  Gorham. 


8(3  HISTORY    OF    GOKIIAM. 

GORHAM    ACADEMY. 

How  early  the  inhabitants  of  this  town  entertained  the 
idea  of  having  an  Academy,  is  not  known  ;  but  it  is  known 
that  some  of  the  more  enhghtened  men  conversed  much 
about  the  matter,  for  years  prior  to  the  time  when  an  active 
and  systematic  movement  was  made  for  that  purpose.  The 
chief  promoters  of  the  Institution  were  Judge  Longfellow, 
Judge  Gorham,  Hon.  Lothrop  Lewis,  John  P.  Little,  Esq., 
David  Harding,  Esq.,  Doctor  Dudley  Folsom,  and  a  few 
others.  In  1802,  a  petition,  headed  by  Hon.  Stephen  Long- 
fellow, in  favor  of  the  establishment  of  an  Academy  in  Gor- 
ham,  was  presented  to  the  Legislature  of  Massachusetts. 
Col.  Lothrop  Lewis  was  at  that  time  the  Kepresentative  of 
Gorham ;  he  was  active  and  persevering  in  his  efforts  to 
accomplish  the  objects  of  the  petition.  The,  act  incorpora- 
ting the  Academy  and  locating  it  in  Gorham,  passed  the 
House  of  Representatives,  March  1st,  and  the  Senate, 
March  4th,  and  was  approved  by  Gov.  Strong,  March  5, 
1803.  At  that  time  there  were  but  six  incorporated  Acade- 
mies in  Maine,  viz :  one  in  each  of  the  towns  of  HalloweU, 
Berwick,  Fryeburg,  Machias,  Portland,  and  New  Castle. 

The  Academy  was  to  be  for  the  education  of  both  sexes, 
in  such  lano;uaoi;es,  and  such  of  the  liberal  arts,  as  the  Trus- 
tees  shall  order  and  direct.  The  Charter  provided  that  the 
number  of  Trustees  shall  not  at  any  time  be  more  than  fif- 
teen, nor  less  than  nine.  The  first  board  of  Trustees  were 
Rev.  Thomas  Lancaster,  Hon.  William  Gorham,  Honorable 
Stephen  Longfellow,  Rev.  Elijah  Kellogg,  Rev.  Daniel  Mar- 
rett.  Rev.  Caleb  Bradley,  Capt.  David  Harding,  Jr.,  John 
P.  Little,  Esq.,  Mr.  Mathew  Cobb,  Hon.  Woodbury  Storer, 
Doctor  Dudley  Folsom,  Mr.  William  McLellan,  Mr.  James 
Phinney,  Mr.  Samuel  Elder,  and  Samuel  Whitmore.  All 
of  these  fifteen  Trustees  arc  now  dead.     The  last  survivor 


EDUCATIONAL.  87 

of  the   Corporate  Board,  was  the  Eev.  Caleb  Bradley,  who 
died  June  2d,  1861,  in  the  90th  year  of  his  age. 

The  Trustees  held  their  first  meeting,  June  1st,  1803,  at 
the  house  of  Samuel  Staples,  innholder,  in  Gorham.  Hon. 
William  Gorham  was  chosen  President,  and  John  P.  Little, 
Esq.,  Secretary,  and  David  Harding,  Jr.,  Esq.,  Treasurer 
of  the  Board.  On  the  23d  of  June,  1803,  the  Legislature 
granted  half  a  township  of  land  to  Gorham  Academy,  on 
condition  that  the  sum  of  83000  should  be  subscribed  for 
the  use  of  the  Academy  within  one  year ;  of  this  sum, 
$2500  was  subscribed  by  citizens  of  Gorham.  The  whole 
$3000  was  speedily  secured.  Subsequently  the  town  voted 
to  raise  $400  in  aid  of  the  Institution.  Eight  of  our  towns- 
men gave  $100  each.  Mr.  Thomas  McLellan  gave  one  acre 
of  land  in  the  villao-e  on  which  to  erect  the  buildinos.  This 
lot  was  then  valued  at  $350.  The  half  township  granted 
by  the  Legislature,  was  located  in  what  is  now  the  town  of 
Woodstock,  in  the  county  of  Oxford.  Lothrop  Lewis  and 
Matthew  Cobb,  were  the  conmiittee  for  locating  and  selling 
the  same.  The  grant  was  surveyed  in  1806  by  Gen.  James 
Irish.  It  was  sold  to  James  H.  Chadbourne  and  twenty- 
three  others,  mostly  citizens  of  Gorham,  for  the  sum  of 
$10,000. 

In  1801,  the  Trustees  made  preparation  to  erect  a  build- 
ing of  wood,  fifty  feet  long  and  forty  feet  wide,  two  stories 
high,  with  a  cupola  for  a  bell.  Mr.  Samuel  Elder  contract- 
ed to  build  the  edifice.  It  is  the  same  building  now  called 
the  old  Academy.  It  was  finished  in  1806.  On  the  eighth 
of  September,  1806,  the  ceremony  of  dedicating  the  Acad- 
emy, and  inaugurating  the  Preceptor,  took  place.  A  large 
collection  of  people  from  this,  and  the  neighboring  towns, 
assembled  to  witness  the  proceedings.  The  new  Preceptor, 
Mr.  Reuben  Nason,  was  duly  installed  ;  he  delivered  an 
Address  appropriate  to  the  occasion,  which  was  printed  at 


88  HISTORY   OF   GORHAM. 

the  request  of  the  Trustees.  Mr.  Nason  was  a  native  of 
Dover,  N.  H.,  and  graduated  at  Harvard  University  in 
1802.  He  was  a  thorough  scholar,  especially  in  the  Latin 
and  Greek  languages,  and  Mathematics  ;  he  was  an  able 
teacher  and  attentive  and  faithfiil  to  the  duties  of  his  voca- 
tion ;  somewhat  severe,  but  never  revengeful ;  and  he  has 
been  called  by  one  of  his  most  distinguished  pupils,  "  that 
sternly  kind  old  many  His  scholars  loved  and  respected 
him.  The  Academy  flourished  under  his  guidance.  Male 
pupils  were  only  admitted,  and  none  under  ten  years  of  age  ; 
and  the  whole  number  limited  to  forty-five.  Tuition  was 
two  dollars  per  term  of  eleven  weeks.  The  Bible  was  re- 
quired to  be  read  daily  in.  school,  which  was  to  be  opened 
and  closed  with  prayer.  The  Columbian  Orator  and  En- 
field's Speaker  were  the  principal  reading  books  ;  Murray's 
Grammar,  Walsh's  Arithmetic,  Webber's  Mathematics,  and 
Morse's  Geography  were  the  chief  text  books  in  English 
studies.  No  student  was  allowed  to  go  out  of  town  without 
leave.  They  were  required  to  keep  the  Sabbath  strictly, 
to  attend  public  worship,  and  pass  the  remainder  of  Sunday 
in  their  respective  places  of  lodging.  The  salary  of  the 
Preceptor  was  $600  per  year. 

The  next  year,  the  Trustees  voted  that  the  number  of 
pupils  might  be  seventy,  fifteen  of  whom  might  be  females. 

The  admission  of  females  into  the  Institution,  as  pupils, 
was  strongly  opposed  by  many  of  the  friends,  and  some  of 
the  Trustees,  of  the  Academy.  How  strangely  times  and 
opinions  alter.  Within  the  period  of  fifty  years,  we  have 
seen  this  Seminary  of  learning — first  exclusively  composed 
of  male  scholars,  then  both  sexes  admitted  ;  then  females 
alone  taught  here,  and  now  again  a  school  for  both  sexes. 

The  prosperity  of  the  Academy  was  increasing  —  the 
number  of  pupils  enlarged  —  the  price  of  tuition  raised  to 
$2,50  per  quarter,  and  an  assistant  teacher  employed.     The 


I 


EDUCATIONAL.  89 

Trustees  made  some  new  rules.     Scholars  were  prohibited 
from  attendino;  music  or  dancing;  schools. 

Early  in  1810,  Mr.  Nason  requested  to  be  released  from 
his  engagement  as  Preceptor ;  he  having  had  a  call  to  settle 
in  the  ministry  at  Freeport.  The  Trustees  released  him, 
and  the  school  was  suspended  four  months. 

Doctor  Charles  Coffin,  of  Brunswick,  was  engaged  as  Pre- 
ceptor ;  he  introduced  several  new  text  books  ;  new  regu- 
lations were  made  ;  the  restriction  limiting  the  number  of 
female  scholars  was  removed,  and  any  number  of  young 
ladies  were  allov,^ed  to  be  pupils.  A  separate  "  Female 
Department"  was  established,  and  Miss  Ehoda  Parker  was 
the  first  Preceptress  in  1811.  Her  salary  was  $300  per 
year.  The  productive  funds  of  the  Academy  at  this  time 
exceeded  811,000.  After  one  year's  teaching,  Doctor  Coffin 
declined  a  farther  engagement,  he  being  offi^red  $1000  a 
year  to  teach  in  Portsmouth,  N.  H.  Doctor  Coffin  did  not 
please  his  pupils,  and  he  was  unpopular  —  students  feared, 
but  did  not  love  him  ;  he  always  seemed  to  have  an  atmos- 
phere of  repulsion  around  him  ;  he  had  no  words  of  en- 
couragement for  timid  scholars. 

Asa  Redington,  Jr.,  was  Dr.  Coffin's  successor  as  Princi- 
pal of  the  Academy.  Mr.  Redington  was  from  Waterville. 
He  scraduated  at  Bowdoin  College  in  1811.  He  has  been 
a  sound  lawyer.  State  Treasurer,  Judge  of  the  District 
Court,  and  Reporter  of  the  Decisions  of  the  Supreme  Judi- 
cial Court. 

Mr.  William  White  was  the  fourth  Preceptor. 

In  September,  1815,  Mr.  Nason  again  took  charge  of  the 
Academy,  and  continued  as  Principal  till  August,  1834 ;  he 
then  removed  to  Clarkson,  New  York,  and  died  suddenly 
at  that  place  in  January,  1835. 

In  1834,  Mr.  John  V.  Beane  became  Preceptor.     Mr. 
Beane    was    a   graduate   of  Dartmouth    College   in    1832. 
12 


90  HISTORY    OF    GORHAM. 

His  successor,  Rev.  Amos  Brown,  graduated  in  tlie  same 
class. 

In  1828,  ornamental  trees  were  planted  on  the  Academy 
grounds  ;  the  building  was  painted,  blinds  attached  to  the 
windows  ;  a  philosophical  apparatus  purchased,  and  a  course 
of  lectures  on  Electricity  was  given.  In  1833-4,  an  attempt 
to  connect  a  manual  labor  department  with  the  Institution 
was  made.  A  mechanic  shop  and  tools  were  hired.  The 
manual  labor  project  was  a  failure.  The  experiment  was 
altogether  unprofitable.  A  change  now  came  over  the 
Institution ;  the  plan  of  the  school  was  altered  ;  it  was 
determined  to  separate  the  male  and  female  departments, 
and  erect  a  large  brick  edifice  for  a  female  boarding  school, 
and  increase  the  number  of  teachers,  both  male  and  female. 
Mr.  Brown  was  elected  Principal  with  a  salary  of  f  750, 
which  was  soon  increased  to  $1000  per  year.  The  Trus- 
tees voted  to  attempt  to  raise  $30,000  for  buildings,  appa- 
ratus and  the  pay  of  teachers.  The  Rev.  T.  Pomeroy,  then 
pastor  of  the  Congregational  Parish  in  this  town,  was  chosen 
agent  to  canvass  the  Stateand  solicit  subscriptions ;  he  en- 
gaged in  the  enterprise  with  energy,  and  more  than  $20,000 
were  subscribed.  In  1836,  the  large  brick  edifice,  four 
stories  high,  was  erected,  and  a  learned  and  efficient  corps 
of  Professors  and  Lady  Teachers  were  employed.  The 
school  was  fully  supplied  with  scholars  ;  several  hundred 
yearly  attended.  But  the  expenses  had  exceeded  the  means  ; 
of  the  $21,000  subscribed,  not  more  than  $7000  were  paid. 

The  purchase  of  land,  buildings,  furniture,  apparatus, 
musical  instruments,  &c.,  had  cost  over  $20,000,  and  had 
absorbed,  not  only  the  donations,  but  all  the  old  Academic 
fund  of  more  than  $12,000.  The  tuition  would  not  meet 
the  expenditures.  This  state  of  things  greatly  embarrassed 
the  Trustees.  The  Institution,  however,  was  flourishing. 
Rev.  Amos  Brown,  now  President  of  the  Agricultural  Col- 


EDUCATIONAL.  91 

lege  in  Western  New  York,  was  Principal.  Rev.  Franklin 
Yeaton,  and  Rev.  Thomas  Tenney,  were  successively  Pro- 
fessors of  Languages.  Robert  Douglass,  Esq.,  Professor  of 
Scientific  and  Practical  Engineering.  Benjamin  Wyman 
was  Teacher  of  Music  and  Penmanship.  Miss  Jane  Inger- 
soll  was  first  Lady  Principal.  Miss  Barrows  and  Miss  Mc- 
Keen  were  Assistant  Female  Teachers. ,  Miss  Russell  suc- 
ceeded Miss  Ingersoll,  and  there  have  been  since  many 
accomplished  female  instructresses.  The  new  Seminary 
buildings  were  dedicated  Sept.  13,  1837,  when  an  Address 
was  delivered  by  Prof.  Packard,  of  Bowdoin  College,  and 
a  Poem  by  William  Cutter,  Esq.  An  appropriate  Ode  Avas 
furnished  by*'C.  P.  Ilsley,  Esq. 

In  1847,  Mr.  Brown  resigned  his  office  as  Principal,  and 
was  succeeded  by  Edward  P.  Weston,  Esq.,  who  continued 
at  the  head  of  the  Seminary  tiU  18G0.  Then  the  school  was 
continued  awhile  by  female  teachers  only,  Mrs.  Lord  being 
Principal.  In  1861,  the  male  and  female  departments  were 
united,  and  Mr.  Josiali  B.  Webb  is  now  at  the  head  of  the 
Seminary,  and  conducting  its  instructions  much  to  the  satis- 
faction of  the  Trustees  and  the  community.  Thousands  of 
scholars  have  been  here  instructed  in  literature,  science  and 
religion  ;  many  of  them  have  become  distinguished  persons 
at  the  bar,  in  the  pulpit,  and  medical  profession,  in  the  State 
Legislatures,  and  in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States. 


92  HISTOKY    OF   GORHAM. 


CHAPTER    XII. 

PROGRESS     OF     THE    TOWN. 

The  Indian  Avars  were  over.  The  dwellers  in  the  gar- 
rison left  the  old  fortress,  which  was  never  to  be  again  in- 
habited. The  settlers  re-occupied  their  long  abandoned 
houses.  Tiie  fear  of  savage  attacks  was  at  an  end.  It  was 
no  longer  necessary  to  protect  their  dwellings.  The  settlers 
went  to  work  in  earnest  to  clear  and  plant  their  fields,  and 
their  labor  was  well  repaid  by  abundant  harvests.  The 
grazing  capabilities  of  our  lands  enabled  the  owners  to 
largely  increase  their  stock  of  cattle,  sheep  and  horses.  The 
streams  were  bridged  —  new  roads  laid  out  and  made  safe 
and  convenient,  new  settlers  flocked  in,  and  the  town  was 
thrifty.  In  1742-3,  Capt.  John  Gorham  erected  a  saw  mill 
and  grist  mill  on  Little  River,  on  the  Fort  Hill  road,  where 
Whitney's  and  Merrill's  mills  now  are.  Those  mills  were 
destroyed  during  the  Indian  troubles.  In  1753,  Enoch 
Freeman,  Solomon  Lombard  and  Wentworth  Stuart,  built 
new  mills  on  the  same  place,  at  a  cost  of  .£1738  9s.  8d. 
The  next  year  a  new  bridge  was  built  over  Little  River  just 
above  these  mills,  and  the  road  to  Pearsontown,  (Standish) 
cleared  out  and  made  passable  with  wheels.  In  1764,  John 
Phinney,  Hugli  IMcLellan  and  Clement  Meserve,  cleared  a 
road  from  Gorhaui  *Corner  to  Bragdon's  mills  in  Scarbor- 
ousfh. 


PROGRESS    OF   THE    TOWN.  98 

Several  meclianics  moved  into  tlic  town.  Joseph  Pilkin- 
ton  is  believed  to  have  been  the  first  blacksmith.  He  lived 
about  half  a  mile  southerly  from  the  Corner,  near  where 
Mr.  Samuel  Edwards  dwelt.  John  and  AVilliam  Cotton 
were  the  first  tanners  in  Gorham  ;  they  came  from  Portland, 
and  were  sons  of  Deacon  Wm.  Cotton  who  came  from  Ports- 
mouth to  Portland  in  1732.  The  Gorham  William  w^as 
born  in  1739,  and  John  in  1711.  They  have  descendants 
now  living  in  town.  In  the  early  periods  of  the  place  large 
flocks  of  sheep  were  kept.  There  are  comparatively  few 
now.  Formerly  flax  and  peas  were  extensively  cultivated  in 
town.  The  former  has  ceased  to  be  raised,  and  peas  now 
form  but  a  small  part  of  our  products.  Our  farmers  early 
paid  attention  to  fruit  trees,  and  Gorham  made  large  quan- 
tities of  cider ;  and  though  many  apples  are  yet  raised,  but 
little  cider  is  manufactured.  Severe  seasons,  and  destruc- 
tive insects  have  greatly  diminished  our  fruit  trees.  Hay, 
oats,  barley,  potatoes,  and  garden  vegetables,  are  our  chief 
products.  Few  towns  in  the  State,  it  is  believed,  raise  and 
sell  as  much  hay  as  Gorham.  Beef  and  pork  are  also  largely 
produced.  Some  branches  of  mechanical  trade,  that  once 
employed  many  hands  in  town,  have  ceased  to  exist,  among 
which  are  cooper  work,  cabinet  making,  pottery,  soap  mak- 
ing, tin  ware  manufactories,  clock  making,  and  some  others. 
John  Dickey  was  the  first  hatter  w^ho  carried  on  his  trade 
here.  Joseph  Hunt  for  many  years  manufactured  many 
hats.  David  Patrick  was  the  first  mason  —  and  the  first 
house  plastered  in  town,  Avas  James  McLellan's,  father  of 
the  late  Deacon  James  McLellan.  The  same  house  is  now 
standing  and  is  owned  by  Miss  C.  Storer.  The  first  brick 
house  is  the  one  a  little  north  of  the  Academy  ;  it  was  long 
owned  by  Thomas  McLellan,  and  afterwards  by  his  son 
Robert.  It  is  said  to  be  the  oldest  brick  dwelling  house  in 
Cumberland  County. 


94  HISTORY   OF   GORHAM. 

Gorhaui  has  never  been  distinguislied  as  a  maniifacturino- 
town  ;  yet  various  manufactures  have  been  carried  on  in  the 
place.  Lumbering  in  its  different  forms  has  always  occu- 
pied the  citizens  to  a  large  amount  in  the  whole.  Carpet 
making,  for  twenty  years  past,  has  employed  many  hands, 
and  $30,000  or  $40,000  annually.  Tanning  and  currying 
has,  for  about  the  same  number  of  years,  been  pursued  ex- 
tensively by  Stephen  Ilinkley  and  others.  Hoes,  curriers' 
knives,  and  various  other  tools,  were  made  by  Mr.  George 
Hight,  some  years  ago. 

Mr.  Elden  Gammon  has  a  machine  shop,  with  water 
power,  where  he  manufactures  lathes,  planing  machines,  and 
other  heavy  and  nice  implements.  Boots  and  shoes  are 
made  in  considerable  quantities  in  the  two  princijDal  villages. 
A  powder  mill  at  Gambo  Falls  does  a  large,  and  it  is  said, 
a  profitable  business.  At  Little  Falls  there  was  for  many 
years  a  cotton  factory  where  sheeting  and  shirting  cloths 
were  spun  and  woven.  The  mill  was  burned  a  few  years 
ago,  and  has  not  been  rebuilt.  Many  of  our  settlers  came 
from  the  maritime  towns  of  Massachusetts,  and  were  accus- 
tomed to  the  sea,  and  quite  a  number  of  the  early  citizens 
pursued  a  sea-faring  life,  and  Gorliam  had  a  large  number 
of  sailors  and  masters  of  vessels.  We  have  no  accurate 
data  by  which  to  determine  the  number  of  the  inhabitants, 
or  the  amount  of  their  property,  till  after  the  Revolutionary 
war.  From  the  number  of  polls  and  valuation  lists  of  that 
period,  we  may  make,  perhaps,  a  near  estimate.  Li  1772, 
there  were  195  1-2  polls,  506  sheep,  125  swine,  77  horses, 
281  cows,  204  oxen,  395  acres  of  tillage  land,  627  acres  of 
pasture,  853  tons  of  hay,  and  4  slaves.  The  polls  were 
reckoned  from  16  years  of  age  ;  till  males  were  twenty- 
one  years  old  they  were  taxed  in  the  poll  lists  to  their  pa- 
rents or  guardians,  hence,  in  some  instances,  females  (wid- 
ows with  minor  sons)  were  taxed  for  polls  ;  for  some  reasons 


PROGEESS    OP    THE   TOWN.  95 

certain  men  were  not  taxed  for  polls  ;  for  instance,  clergy- 
men. So  Mr.  Ebenezer  Mayo  and  Joseph  Quinby  were  not 
rated  in  the  poll  list,  because  they  had  erected  mills  in  town. 
Males  over  70  years  of  age  were  not  ordinarily  taxed  for 
polls.  In  1772,  there  were  57  males  that  had  polls  but  no 
property,  17  that  had  property,  but  no  poll  tax.  Solomon 
Lombard,  Esq.,  William  McLellan,  Lemuel  Rich,  and  Na- 
thaniel AVhitney  had  each  two  horses ;  69  individuals  owned 
one  horse  each ;  Joshua  Decker  was  the  only  person  in  town 
in  1772,  that  owned  a  horse  and  no  other  taxable  property. 
William  McLellan  owned  two  Negro  slaves,  and  Jacob 
Hamblen  one.  Forty-eight  persons  owned  one  cow  each, 
53  owned  two  cows  each,  13  three  each,  12  owned  four 
each,  and  three  owned  six  each  ;  74  men  owned  no  cow,  64 
men  owned  each  a  yoke  of  oxen,  16  owned  2  yokes,  and 
two  owned  6  oxen  each  ;  127  men  owned  no  oxen,  74  per- 
sons owned  sheep.  Very  few  flocks  of  sheep  exceeded  15 
in  number.  Four  persons  cut  twenty  tons  of  hay,  each ; 
35  cut  from  5  to  15  tons  apiece  ;  52  cut  less  than  5  tons  ; 
and  90  men  cut  no  hay  ;  only  one  person,  (John  Harding) 
is  recorded  as  havino;  twelve  acres  of  land  under  tillage. 
As  to  the  population  of  Gorham  in  1772,  an  approximate 
census  may  be  formed  from  the  number  of  polls  ;  assuming 
that  there  were  as  many  females  as  males  over  sixteen  years 
of  age,  which  was  196,  and  if  we  add.  one  half  as  many 
under  16  years  of  age,  we  obtain  about  580,  or  600  souls, 
as  the  population  of  the  town  in  1772.  At  the  commence- 
ment of  the  revolutionary  war,  Gorham  contained  about  850 
inhabitants. 

In  1772,  the  town  voted  7iot  to  send  a  Representative  to 
the  General  Court  on  account  of  poverty.     At  that  time  and 
long  after,  the  towns  paid  their  own  Representatives. 
In  1790  Gorham  contained  2244  inhabitants. 
"  1800        "  "       2503 


96  HISTORY    OF    GORHAM. 

In  1810  Gorliam  contained  2632  inhabitants. 
«  1820        "  "       2800  " 

«  1830        "  "       2988  " 

"  1840        "  "       3002 

"  1850         "  "       3088  " 

"  1860        "  "       3253  " 

The  property  of  our  town  has  steadily  increased  since 
the  war  of  1812.  And  the  State  valuation  of  1860  shows 
the  amount  of  taxable  property  to  be  more  than  one  million 
of  dollars,  and  is  the  fourth  town  in  the  County  of  Cumber- 
land in  the  amount  of  its  valuation. 


PHYSICIANS. 

More  than  thirty  years  elapsed  after  the  settlement  of  the 
town  before  any  regular  physician  was  permanently  located 
here.  Doctor  Stephen  Swett  was  the  first  physician  in  this 
place ;  he  was  from  Exeter,  N.  H.,  and  was  a  prominent 
man  in  municipal  affairs  in  the  time  of  the  Revolution  ;  he 
was  surgeon  of  Col.  Edmund  Phinney's  Regiment,  and  was 
in  several  battles. 

Doctor  Jeremiah  Barker  was  settled  in  this  town  as  early 
as  1780,  and  succeeded  Dr.  Swett.  After  practicing  several 
years  in  Gorham,  he  removed  to  Falmouth,  afterwards  to 
Portland,  subsequently  he  married  the  widow  of  Judge 
Gorham,  returned  to  this  town  and  died  here  in  1835,  at  tlie 
age  of  84  years. 

Doctor  Nathaniel  Bowman,  who  graduated  at  Harvard ' 
University  in  1786,  was  tlie  third  physician  in  town.     He 
was  a  gentlemanly  and  popular  man  ;  and,  as  has  been  before 
stated,  was  killed  at  the  raising  of  the  meeting  house  in 


PROGRESS    OF    THE    TOWN.  97 

1797.  The  widow  of  Doct.  Bowman  died  within  three  or 
four  years  past. 

Doctor  Dudley  Folsom,  from  Exeter,  N.  H.,  succeeded 
Dr.  Bowman,  and  had  a  large  and  successful  practice  for  a 
long  number  of  years.  He  was  a  prominent  citizen,  and 
much  engaged  in  municipal  affairs,  one  of  the  Trustees  of 
Gorham  Academy,  and  for  many  years  a  Representative  of 
Gorham  in  the  Legislature  of  Massachusetts  ;  he  was"  a  man 
of  integrity  and  great  private  Avorth.     He  died  in  Gorham. 

Doctors  Charles  Kittrege,  Asa  Adams,  Wm.  Thorndike, 
Dr.  Seaver,  Elihu  Baxter,  Wm.  H.  Peabody,  John  Pierce, 
8.  W.  Baker,  Enoch  Cross,  Simeon  C.  Strong,  Edward  F. 
Mitchell,  William  Wescott,  Lewis  W.  Houghton,  Phineas 
Ingalls,  Edward  W.  Anderson,  have  been  medical  practi- 
tioners in  Gorham,  and  Avere  respectable  and  useful  citizens, 
all  of  Avliom  have  deceased,  or  removed  from  toAvn.  The 
physicians  remaining  in  practice  here  at  the  present  time,  are 
Doctors  John  Waterman,  Alden  T.  Keen,  Seth  C.  Gordon, 
Nelson  H.  Carey,  Frederic  Robie,  James  M.  Buzzel. 


COUNSELORS     AT     LAW. 

John  Park  Little,  a  native  of  Littleton,  Mass.,  graduated 
at  Brown  University,  Rhode  Island,  in  1794,  and  opened  an 
office  for  the  practice  of  law  in  Gorham  in  1801.  He  mar- 
ried Mary  J.  Prescott,  a  daughter  of  Judge  Prescott,  of 
Groton,  Mass.,  in  1804.  Mr.  Little  was  an  industrious 
man,  faithful  to  the  duties  of  his  profession,  highly  respect- 
ed for  his  moral  and  social  virtues,  having  the  full  confi- 
dence of  his  friends  and  tOAvnsmen  ;  he  built  the  three  story 
house  recently  occupied  by  Mrs.  Mary  J.  Lewis.  jNIr.  Lit- 
tle died  in  Gorham  in  1809. 
13 


98  HISTORY   OF   GORHAM. 

Peter  Thacher,  son  of  Hon.  Josiah  Thacher,  began  to 
practice  laAV  in  Gorham  in  1805  ;  he  removed  to  Saccarappa 
and  died  there. 

Barrett  Potter  graduated  at  Dartmouth  College  in  1796. 
He  opened  an  office  in  North  Yarmouth.  After  a  short 
time  he  removed  to  Gorham  in  1805,  and  the  next  year  he 
left  Gorham  and  removed  to  Portland,  v^here  he  was  a  prac- 
titioner for  many  years  —  was  a  Senator  in  the  State  Legis- 
lature in  1822,  President  of  the  Canal  Bank,  and  Judge  of 
Probate  for  Cumberland  County  from  1822  to  1816.  Judge 
Potter  is  still  living  in  Portland  at  an  advanced  age. 

Samuel  Whitmore,  Jr.,  was  a  native  of  Gorham.  He 
graduated  at  Dartmouth  College  in  1802,  studied  law  with 
Mr.  Little,  and  practiced  in  Gorham  a  short  time,  and  died 
in  this  town. 

Joseph  Adams  was  a  native  of  Sudbury,  Mass. ;  he  grad- 
uated at  Harvard  College  in  1805,  studied  law  with  Hon. 
George  Thacher,  whose  daughter  Sarah  he  married.  Mr. 
Adams  commenced  his  professional  practice  in  Buxton,  but 
soon  removed  to  Gorham,  and  continued  in  the  legal  prac- 
tice in  this  town  till  October,  1821,  when  he  removed  to 
Portland,  and  died  in  1850.  Mr.  Adams  was  a  sound  law- 
yer, and  an  upright  man,  and  possessed,  in  a  large  degree, 
the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens.  For  many 
years  he  was  County  Attorney,  and  was  a  delegate  from 
Gorham  to  the  Convention  that  formed  the  Constitution  of 
Maine. 

Jacob  S.  Smith  was  a  native  of  Durham,  N.  H. ;  he 
graduated  at  Harvard  in  1805.  After  reading  law  with 
his  father,  Ebenezer  Smith  of  Durham,  he  opened  an  office 
in  Gorham  village,  and  pursued  his  profession  for  forty 
years  ;  he  then  retired  from  practice.  He  now  lives  on  a 
farm  in  this  town. 

Josiah  Pierce,   a  native  of  Baldwin,  and  a  graduate  of 


PROGRESS    OF    THE   TOWN. 


99 


Bowdoln  College,  opened  an  office  in  Gorham  in  1821,  and 
still  continues  in  the  profession. 

Elijah  Hayes  was  a  native  of  Limerick,  and  read  law  with 
Judge  Howard,  and  commenced  practice  in  this  town  in 
1833,  and  had  an  increasing  business  till  his  sudden  death 
in  1846. 

Thomas  H.  Goodwin,  Henry  P.  A.  Smith,  Charles  N. 
Danforth,  John  AY.  Dana,  and  Alvah  Black,  were  lawyers 
in  this  town  for  brief  periods,  and  have  all  left  the  place. 

John  A.  Waterman,  a  graduate  of  Bowdoin  College,  of 
the  class  of  1846,  opened  his  office  here  in  1850,  and  still 
continues  his  legal  practice  in  Gorham. 

The  Counselors  at  law  in  this  town  have  nearly  all  been 
educated,  upright,  public  spirited  men,  and  useful,  worthy 
citizens. 

The  following  persons  from  this  town  have  received  a 
collegiate  education. 

Stephen  Longfellow  graduated  at  Harvard  in         1798 

Samuel  Whitmore,  Jr.  graduated  at  Dartmouth  in  1802 


Eandolph  A.  L.  Codman 

Bowdoin  in      1816 

Stephen  L.  Lewis 

a                      i 

1816 

William  McDougall 

a                       « 

1820 

Charles  Harding 

((                        ( 

1821 

James  Larry 

a                      4 

1821 

Stephen  McLeUan  Staples 

a                      i 

1821 

Charles  H.  P.  McLellan 

((                       ( 

1822 

William  T.  Smith 

((                      ( 

1823 

Thomas  McDougall 

a                      I 

1824 

William  T.  Hilliard 

H                                i 

1826 

Seargent  S.  Prentiss 

((                      ( 

1826 

John  H.  HUliard 

((                      ( 

'               182T 

Francis  B.  Eobie 

((                       i 

1829 

Francis  Barbour 

a                     ^ 

1830 

Jabez  C.  Rich 

((                     ( 

1832 

100 


HISTORY    OF    GORHAM. 


Reuben  Nasan,  Jr. 
John  D.  Smith 
George  L.  Prentiss 
WiUiam  W.  Rand 
Edward  Robie 
Frederick  Robie 
Josiah  Pierce,  Jr. 
John  L.  Waterman 
Lewis  Pierce 
Thomas  S.  Robie 
George  W.  Pierce 
Oliver  Libby 
George  B.  Emery 
Charles  O.  Hunt 


graduated  at  Bowdoin  in 


1834 
1831 
1835 
1837 
1840 
1841 
1846 
1846 
1852 
1856 
1857 
1859 
1860 
1861 


MISCELLANEOUS.  101 


CH  APTEE     XIII. 

MISCELLANEOUS.  — TO  WX     HOUSES. 

For  several  years  after  the  town  was  incorporated,  town 
meetIno;s  were  lield  in  the  meetino;  house  of  the  First  Parish. 
Afterw^ards  at  the  Corner  school  house.  In  1815,  a  town 
house  was  erected  on  Fort  Hill,  near  where  the  old  garrison 
once  stood.  This  building  was  the  place  of  town  meeting 
for  thirty  years.  In  1821,  an  union  meeting  house  Avas 
erected  on  a  hill  at  the  western  part  of  the  village.  This 
building  was  designed  to  be  used  as  a  place  for  public  wor- 
ship for  any,  and  all  religious  sects.  The  Free  Will  Bap- 
tists and  Methodists  principally  occuj^ied  it ;  it  was  called 
the  "  Free  Meeting  House  ;"  like  most  other  union  churches, 
instead  of  being  a  bond  of  harmony,  it  was  quite  the  re- 
verse. The  Proprietors  of  the  building  obtained  permission 
of  the  Legislature  to  sell  it  at  auction.  Hon.  Toppan  Robie 
became  the  purchaser,  and  he  offered  to  exchange  it  with 
the  town  for  the  old  town  house  on  Fort  Hill.  The  offer 
was  a  generous  one,  and  was  accepted  by  the  town,  though 
not  without  great  opposition  from  some  of  the  citizens  in  the 
northern  and  western  parts  of  the  town.  Many  toAvn  meet- 
ings on  the  subject  were  held.  Many  contended  that  the 
town  house  should  be  in  the  centre  of  the  town,  but  a  large 
majority  knew  the  territorial  centre  of  the  town  would  be  a 
very  inconvenient  place  for  voters  to  go  to.  After  many 
trials  of  strength  it  was  repeatedly  settled  to  have  the  Free 


102  HISTORY    OF   GORHAM. 

meetinfr  house  for  the  town  house.  It  has  been  altered  and 
repaired,  and  makes  a  commodious  and  convenient  place  for 
town  meetino-s.  In  1829,  an  effort  was  made  to  divide  the 
town  by  setting  off  the  northerly  part,  and  with  parts  of 
Standish  and  Windham,  form  a  new  town,  but  the  Legisla- 
ture were  averse  to  the  project. 


THE     TOWN'S    POOR. 

For  more  than  thirty  years  after  the  incorporation  of  the 
town,  no  specific  sums  were  voted  for  the  support  of  the 
poor ;  each  individual  case  of  necessity  was  attended  to  by 
the  Selectmen,  and  the  amount  expended  was  voted  at  some 
subsequent  town  meeting.  When  articles  were  inserted 
in  the  warrants  for  town  meetings,  the  town  would  vote 
to  dismiss  them,  and  they  would  vote  that  the  Selectmen 
see  to  the  circumstances  of  persons  applying  for  aid,  and 
direct  them  to  manage  the  pauper  business  as  prudently 
as  might  be.  After  awhile,  the  number  needing  assistance 
becoming  larger,  it  was  the  custom  of  the  town  to  let  out 
the  support  of  their  poor  to  the  lowest  bidder,  if  the  over- 
seers of  the  poor  thought  the  lowest  bidder  suitable  to  take 
charge  of  the  indigent.  When  the  surplus  revenue  of  the 
United  States  was  deposited  with  the  States,  and  Maine  hav- 
ing distributed  their  several  proportions  to  the  towns,  this 
town  voted  to  apply  their  portion  to  the  purchase  of  a  farm 
for  the  poor,  and  the  farm  of  Mr.  John  Hamblen  on  the 
Gray  road  was  bought  for  about  $3000.  Agricultural  tools 
were  provided,  and  a  Superintendent  of  the  Poor  Farm,  and 
of  the  paupers,  was  hired,  and  the  paupers  were  thus  taken 
care  of.  But  this  method  of  using  these  fiinds  was  not 
agreeable  to  many  persons,  who  paid  small,  or  no  taxes  ; 


MISCELLANEOUS.  108 

and  after  repeated  town  meetings,  it  was  voted  to  distribute 
the  surplus  revenue  funds  to  each  individual,  and  a  commit- 
tee was  chosen  to  make  the  distribution ;  it  amounted  to 
something  over  two  dollars  for  each  man,  woman  and  child 
in  Gorham.  Since  then  most  of  the  paupers  have  been  kept 
on  the  Huston  farm,  which  the  town  rents  of  Mrs.  Ruth 
Huston,  for  about  $165  per  year,  and  a  Superintendent 
takes  care  of  the  poor  there,  and  cultivates  the  farm.  Many, 
however,  are  partially  supported,  who  do  not  go  to  the  town 
farm.  The  annual  expense  to  the  town,  for  the  support  of 
their  poor,  is  about  $800  at  the  present  period. 


KOADS. 

There  are  nearly  three  hundred  miles  of  public  highways 
in  town ;  and  as  the  nature  of  the  soil,  in  most  places,  is 
not  well  adapted  to  good  roads,  the  expense  of  keeping  them 
in  repair  is  a  heavy  item  of  taxation.  Near  $4000  per  year 
are  expended  on  the  roads  and  bridges. 

The  York  &  Cumberland  Railroad  passes  through  our 
principal  village,  and  affords  a  convenient  and  rapid  commu- 
nication with  Portland  and  other  parts  of  our  State  and 
country. 

The  Oxford  &  Cumberland  Canal  runs  through  Gorham, 
from  Standish  to  Westbrook,  and  on  to  the  sea.  It  was  first 
opened  for  the  passage  of  boats  in  1829. 


104  HISTORY    or    GORHAM. 


POST-OFFICE. 

A  Post-oflSce  was  established  in  Gorliam  in  1797. 
Samuel  Prentiss  was  appointed  Post-master,  SejDt.,  1797. 
Samuel  Whitmore,  Jr.,     "  "  June,  1807. 

Alexander  McLellan,         "  "  Dec.  5,  1809. 

Isaac  C.  Irish,  »  "  April  18, 1837. 

Stevens  Smith,  "  "  Dec.  8,  1841. 

James  Irish,  "  "  June  7,  1845. 

Joshua  B.  Phipps,  "  "  July  20,  1849. 

Samuel  W.  Lord,  "  "  June  20,  1853. 

John  Farnham,  "  "  Dec.  1857. 

Ebenezer  W.  Nevens,        "  "  June,  1861. 

A  Post-office  was  established  at  West  Gorham  in  1829. 
Simeon  C.  Clements  appointed  Post-master,  Jan.  13,  1829. 
Greenleaf  C.  Watson,       "  "  Feb.  6,  1841. 

Naaman  C.  Watson,  "  "  Aug.  6,  1841. 

Daniel  B.  Clements,  "  "  May  17,  1844. 

Thomas  J.  Hasty,  "  '^  1860. 


The  first  Inn-holder  in  this  town  was  Caleb  Chase  in  1770. 
Cary  McLellan  opened  a  public  house  in  1779. 
Samuel  Prentiss  opened  a  public  house  in  1786. 
Samuel  Staples  opened  a  public  house  in  1805. 
At  present  there  are  four  or  five  taverns  in  town. 


There  was  a  violent  tornado,  or  hurricane,  passed  over  a 
portion  of  Gorham  July  31, 1767.     It  commenced  near  Lake 


MISCELLANEOUS.  105 

Sebago,  and  swept  over  the  nortli-eastcrly  corner  of  the  town 
into  Windham,  near  Loveitt's  Falls ;  its  breadth  was  about 
three-fourths  of  a  mile,  and  it  prostrated  all  trees  in  its  course. 
Ever  since  that  event,  that  portion  of  the  town  has  been 
called  "The  Hurricane  District." 


In  September,  178T,  on  a  still,  clear  afternoon,  several 
loud,  distinct  reports  were  heard  by  many  people  of  Gor- 
ham,  Standish,  and  Baldwin ;  the  noise  was  said  to  be  as 
great  as  that  made  by  large  cannon  ;  there  were  ten  or  twelve 
of  these  reports.  These  noises  greatly  alarmed  many  of  our 
townsmen.  The  probability  is  that  the  sounds  were  caused 
by  the  bursting  of  meteoric  stones  in  the  atmosphere. 


CEMETEKIES, 

The  first  grave  yard  in  town  was  one  near  the  fort  on 
Fort  Hill,  which  is  yet  used  for  a  place  of  sepulture.  There 
was  also  a  small  burying  ground  at  the  village,  back  of 
where  the  shops  of  G.  L.  Darling  and  Jonas  W.  Clark  now 
stand.  There  never  were  stones  with  inscriptions  there,  and 
nearly  all  traces  of  graves  have  disappeared.  The  principal 
public  burying  place,  of  our  early  inhabitants,  was  at  the 
village,  near  the  corner  on  South  Street,  now  called  the  old 
grave  yard.  This  lot  was  given  to  the  town  by  Mr.  Jacob 
Hamlen  in  1770.  In  a  town  meeting  held  March  25,  1771, 
the  following  vote  was  passed  :  — Voted,  "  That  Solomon 
bard,  Esq.,  Capt.  Edmund  Phinney,  Xathan  Whitney,  Na- 
thaniel Whitney,  Joseph  Gates,  Benjamin  Stevens,  Benja- 
min Skillings,  Eliphalet  Watson,  and  Joseph  Pilkinton,  be 
a  committee  to  return  the  thanks  of  the  town  to  Mr.  Jacob 
14 


106  HISTORY   OF   GORHAM. 

Hamleii,  for  his  generosity  In   giving  to  the  town  half  an 
acre  of  land  for  the  purpose  of  a  burying  yard." 

At  a  public  town  meeting  lield  in  the  month  of  April, 
1771,  the  following  address  was  publicly  made : — 

"  An  Address  of  Thanks  of  the  Town  of  Gorham  to  Mr. 
Jacob  Uamlen  for  his  Generous  iiresent  and  gft  to  the 
Toion  of  a  Tract  of  Land  for  a  Common  Burying  Place, 
Pronounced  hy  Solomon  Lonibard,  Esq.,  Chairman  of 
the  Committee  that  was  chosen  hy  the  Town  for  that  pur- 
pose the  2bth  of  March,  1771. 

"  Mr.  Hamlen — This  large  Committee  are  commanded 
by  the  Town  of  Gorham,  to  wait  upon  you,  Sir,  with  an 
Address  of  Thanks  of  the  Town,  for  your  free  and  generous 
present  made  to  the  Town,  of  a  parcel  of  land  for  a  common 
Burying  place,  where  the  people  may  bury  their  Dead  out 
of  their  sight.  True  it  is.  Sir,  that  the  intrinsic  value  of  the 
Present  made  to  the  Town  is  not  equal  to  the  donations  of 
some  of  Greater  Fortunes,  who  have  built  Hospitals  and 
endowed  them,  and  have  built  Churches  and  endowed  them, 
and  thereby  have  transmitted  their  names  and  Honor  to 
unborn  Ages,  yet  notwithstanding  this.  Sir,  the  free  and 
generous  Air  and  the  Religious  end  for  which  you  make  this 
gift  to  the  Town,  renders  it  a  Great,  Noble  and  Generous 
Donation,  where  survivors  may  deposit  their  Greatest  Treas- 
ure, their  dear  Friend  and  Relative  ;  that  provision  be  made 
for  depositing  the  dead,  is  as  necesary  as  to  make  provision  of 
houses  for  the  living  to  dwell  in.  By  the  Apostacy  and  fall 
from  God,  Adam  and  all  his  Posterity  became  mortal.  In 
the  day  thou  Eatest  thereof  thou  shalt  surely  Die.  Death 
is  entailed  upon  all  Adams's  posterity,  and  every  one  knows, 
that  as  he  Is  born  he  shall  surely  die  ;  so  that  Burying  places 
not  only  are  convenient,  but  absolutely  necessary  for  the 
dearest  friend  and  relative  while  living,  that  gives  the  most 


MISCELLANEOUS.  107 

pleasing  sensation  of  pleasure  and  delight,  in  converse  and 
communion  with  them,  but  when  once  cold  Death  embraces 
this  object  in  his  arms,  he  or  she  becomes  disagreeable  com- 
pany. That  object  that  once  delighted  every  eye,  and 
charmed  every  heart,  and  engrossed  the  strongest  affection  ; 
when  once  the  lovely  corpse  becomes  shaded  with  the  image 
and  picture  of  Death  and  corruption,  all  pleasing  sensations 
and  delight  are  lost  and  gone,  and  the  breast  that  once 
swelled  with  Joy,  now  is  charged  with  an  insupportable  load 
of  Grief,  and  his  thoughts  are  employed  where  to  deposit  his 
dead  out  of  his  sight.  "When  God  visited  Abraham  and  by 
his  afflictive  hand  had  snatched  from  him  a  portion  of  his 
very  heart  in  the  Death  of  his  Dearly  Beloved  Sarah,  she 
who  once  by  her  beauty  charmed  him,  and  her  becoming 
mien  greatly  Delighted  him.  And  her  ready  and  cheerful 
obedience  and  Affection  for  him  gave  her  the  highest  place 
in  his  heart  of  all  Earthly  objects,  but  upon  this  Event,  viz : 
the  Death  of  Sarah,  he  was  so  far  from  Receiving  pleasure  or 
Satisfaction  from  the  presence  of  the  Coi-pse,  that  it  Excited 
the  greatest  pain  and  uneasiness  of  mind,  and  seeks  a  place 
to  repose  his  Dead  out  of  his  Sight ;  for  we  find  recorded  in 
Sacred  Writ,  that  Abraham  stood  up  before  his  Dead  and 
Spoke  to  the  sons  of  Heth,  saying,  I  am  a  stranger  and  a 
sojourner  with  you,  give  me  a  possession  of  a  Burying  place 
with  you  that  I  may  Bury  my  Dead  out  of  my  sight.  Upon 
which  they  Generously  offered  him  the  choice  of  their  Sepul- 
chres to  bury  his  Dead.  Upon  which  Abraham  bowed  him- 
self to  the  people  in  Gratitude  to  them ;  but  this  was  not 
what  he  was  desirous  of;  but  a  piece  of  Ground  that  He 
might  call  his  own,  that  he  might  there  without  Trespass, 
view  the  monument  of  his  dying  or  dead  friend,  and  there 
empty  his  Breast  overcharged  with  Grief  in  showers  of 
Tears  over  her  Grave.  For  this  purpose,  he  entreats  the 
sons  of  Heth  to  plead  for  him  with  Zoliar  for  the  cave 


108  niSTOEY    OF    GORHAM. 

Machpelah  at  ye  end  of  his  field  for  as  much  money  as  it 
was  Avorth,  where  he  might  depose  this  once  lovely  Corpse, 
and  without  Trespass  or  offence  to  any  might  visit  and  mourn 
over.  S',  the  same  desire  prevails  in  every  man ;  he  desires 
the  liberty  of  visiting  the  Grave  Yard,  and  see  the  little 
hillock,  the  Rising  Ground — the  memorial  of  the  dead,  with- 
out ground  of  complaint  from  any  one,  there  to  contemplate 
the  state  of  mortality,  the  irreparable  loss  Sustained,  and  to 
weep  over  the  Dead.  There  is,  S'^,  a  secret  pleasure  in  this, 
as  weeping  for  Sin  yields  comfort  to  the  penitent,  so  mourn- 
ing for  the  dead  does  yield  satisfaction.  This  mourning  is 
not  altogether  a  painful  sensation.  You,  S'",  have  put  it  in 
the  power  of  the  people  in  this  place  to  visit  their  Dead  as 
often  as  their  inclination  excites  them  thereto.  The  Dead 
Bodys  are  Deposed  as  Seed,  as  Seed  sown  for  the  Eesurrec- 
tion.  And  probable  it  is  that  most  of  us  may  soon  in  a  few 
months  or  years  mingle  our  Dust  with  those  there  buried, 
until  the  Sound  of  the  last  Trumpet,  arise  ye  dead,  and  come 
to  judgment.  God  in  mercy  prepare  each  of  us  for  such  an 
event. 

"  And  now,  S',  to  conclude,  we,  the  Committee  do,  in  the 
name  of  the  town,  wish,  and  pray  that  God  in  his  provi- 
dence may  shower  down  into  your  bosom  sevenfold  of  the 
good  things  of  this  life  in  Recompense  for  your  Charity  and 
Goodness,  and  in  the  world  to  come,  may  you  be  rewarded 
with  Life  eternal,  and  that  both  you  and  we  may  be  as  happy 
as  to  joyn  the  Great  Assembly  above.  Angels,  Arch- An- 
gels, and  the  whole  Church  Triumphant  in  singing  the  Song 
of  Moses  and  the  Lamb,  where  there  shall  be  no  more  pain 
or  dying,  no  weeping  for  Departed  friends,  but  fullness  of 
joy  at  God's  Right  hand." 

A  large  and  convenient  burying  ground  near  the  village 
was  purchased  and  lotted  out,  some  tliirty  years  ago,  which 
is  now  the  principal  cemetery.     There  are  several  other 


MISCELLANEOUS.  10<J 

public  places  for  sepulture  in  to^^^l  —  at  South  Gorham, 
West  Gorham,  Little  Falls  village,  White  Eock  and  at  the 
north  part  of  the  town. 


110  HISTORY  -OF   GORHAM. 


CHAPTEE    XIV. 

THE    KEVOLUTION". 

Scarcely  had  the  mingled  sounds  of  the  French  and 
Indian  war  died  away,  and  our  citizens  got  quietly  settled 
in  their  industrial  pursuits,  when  other,  and  ominous  reports 
from  another  quarter,  burst  u|)on  the  startled  ears  of  our 
people.  Rumors  of  impending  troubles  with  the  mother 
country  came  across  the  Atlantic,  and  deeply  saddened  the 
hearts  of  the  American  Colonies.  At  that  period  our  town 
was  peaceful  and  flourishing  ;  its  resources  were  being  rap- 
idly developed.  It  was  incorporated  and  organized  with 
judicious  Municipal  officers.  Their  prosperity  was  soon  to 
be  checked  by  new  national  difficulties.  The  troubles  be- 
tween Great  Britain  and  her  transatlantic  cMldren  were  as- 
suming a  serious  asjject.  The  people  of  this  town,  ever 
keenly  alive  in  the  cause  of  liberty  and  justice,  entered  ear- 
nestly into  the  troubles  with  England.  As  early  as  Septem- 
ber, 1768,  a  town  meeting  was  held,  and  Solomon  Lombard, 
Esq.,  (the  former  pastor)  was  chosen  "  an  agent  to  go  to 
Boston,  as  soon  as  may  be,  to  join  a  Convention  of  agents 
from  other  towns  in  the  Province,  to  consult  and  resolve 
upon  such  measures  as  may  most  conduce  to  the  safety  and 
welfare  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  Province  at  this  alarming 
and  critical  conjuncture."  Mr.  Lombard  was  allowed  eight 
days  for  going  to,  and  returning  from  Boston. 

When  the  pride,  ambition,  and  cupidity  of  the  British 


THE    REVOLUTION.  Ill 

government  led  tliem  to  inflict  on  our  land  successive 
wrongs ;  when  they  attempted  to  violate  the  plainest  rights, 
and  subvert  the  dearest  privileges  of  the  Colonies ;  when 
the  Ministry  of  George  III.  had  become  deaf  to  the  implor- 
ing voice  of  mercy  and  justice,  and  the  patriots  of  America 
had  determined  to  resist  the  unrighteous  demands  of  Old 
England ;  when  the  blood  of  the  good  and  brave  had 
moistened  the  fields  of  Lexington  and  Bunker  Hill ;  when 
Charlestown  and  Portland  were  but  heaps  of  smoking  ruins  ; 
the  freemen  of  Gorham  did  not  prove  recreant  to  the  great 
and  sacred  cause  of  Liberty.  Our  peaceful,  inland  town, 
remote  from  invasion  and  the  clang  of  arms,  was  awake  and 
active  in  the  great  concern.  She  contributed  freely  and 
largely  of  her  citizens  and  property  to  the  general  cause. 
Our  townsmen  left  their  quiet  pursuits  to  mingle  in  the 
storm  of  war.  She  sent  her  sons  north  and  south,  and  east 
and  west,  to  fight,  and  bleed  and  die !  She  constantly  con- 
tributed more  than  her  quota  of  troops  for  the  Continental 
army.  Capt.  Hart  Williams  commanded  a  full  company 
from  Gorham  in  Col.  Phinney's  Regiment,  and  Capt.  Alex- 
ander McLellan  led  a  large  company,  all  except  one  private 
from  Gorham,  under  Gen.  Wadsworth  to  Castine,  (then 
called  Buygaduce)  in  the  unfortunate  Penobscot  expedition. 
A  large  number  of  Gorham  men  were  also  in  the  Machias 
expedition.  At  one  time  every  third  man  in  this  town,  ca- 
pable of  bearing  arms,  Avas  in  the  army.  She  had  soldiers 
in  almost  every  battle  of  the  Revolution.  At  the  engage- 
ment on  Rhode  Isljind,  in  1778,  Paul  Whitney  and  Mr. 
Wescott  were  killed.  The  energetic  and  brave  Col.  Ed- 
mund Phinney  led  his  Regiment  to  Cambridge  soon  after 
Bunker  Hill  battle,  and  was  among  the  first  to  march  into 
Boston  after  its  evacuation  by  the  British ;  he  conducted 
himself  with  great  activity,  courage,  and  prudence ;  he  did 
much  to  induce  our  townsmen  to  exert  themselves  to  the 


112  HISTORY    OF    GORIIAM. 

Utmost  to  maintain  the  war.  In  an  original  letter  now  be- 
fore me,  dated  in  "  Camp  at  Cambridge,  May  26,  1776," 
writing  to  his  father,  the  venerable  John  Phinnej,  the  first 
settler,  he  says,  "I  am  very  well  and  in  high  spirits,  and 
hope  to  continue  so,  till  every  tory  is  banished  this  land  of 
liberty,  and  our  rights  and  privileges  are  restored." 

Capt.  John  Phinney  was  at  that  time  too  far  advanced  in 
years  to  endure  the  fatigues  of  a  campaign ;  but  his  patriotic 
feelino-s  were   warm  and  vigorous,  and  his  sons   and  his 
o-randsons  went  to  the  war.     Besides  Col.  Edmund,  and  his 
brother,  John  Phinney,  Jr.,  (the  first  white  man  that  planted 
a  hill  of  corn  in  Gorham)  and  his  two  sons,  John  Phinney 
3d,  and  Ebenezer  Phinney,  were  in  the  Eevolutionary  army. 
In  the  autumn  of  1776,  Col.  Phinney  marched  from  Cam- 
bridge to  Ticonderoga.     Capt.  Hart  Williams'  company  of 
Gorham  men  served  three  campaigns  in  the  northern  army, 
and  were  engaged  in  the  several  conflicts  with  the  troops 
of  Burgoyne,  which  resulted  in  that  General's  surrender. 
Gorham  soldiers  were  not  only  in  the  northern  army,  but 
about  thirty  men  from  this  town  were  at  Rhode  Island,  and 
many  at  New  York  and  in  New  Jersey  at  the  same  time. 
Philip  Horr,  of  Gorham,  who  was  a  private  in  Capt.  Traf- 
farn's  company  of  Col.  Topham's  Rhode  Island  Regiment, 
was  taken  prisoner  while  rowing  a  boat  from  Rowland's 
ferry  to  Bristol,  with  Col.  Topham  and  two  of  his  captains. 
Mr.  Horr  was  placed   on  board  a  British  prison  ship  and 
endured  great  sufferings  ;  his  health  was  ruined.     He  served 
twenty-eight  months.     Gorham  men  went   whenever  and 
wherever  their  country  called  them.     They  left  their  homes 
and  firesides,   dearer  to  them  than  life  ;  they  endured  the 
fatigues  and  dangers  of  every  campaign ;  they  parted  with 
their  scanty,  hard-earned  bread,  to  feed  their  brethren  in 
arms  ;  they  made  constant  and  liberal  provision  for  the  fam- 
ilies of  absent  soldiers.     They  wandered  with  Arnold  on 


THE    REVOLUTION.  113 

the  wild  banks  of  the  Kennebec  and  Chaudierc ;  they 
marched  with  Gen.  Greene  over  the  hot  sands  of  Carolina, 
and  the  high  hills  of  Santee.  They  died  by  the  weapons  of 
the  enemy  —  they  died  by  contagious  disease  —  they  died  by 
the  noxious  air  of  prison  ships  — by  the  cold  of  winter,  and 
by  the  heat  of  summer.  Those  who  remained  at  home  de- 
voted their  time  and  talents  to  the  cause  by  noble  sacrifices 
and  patriotic  resolutions. 

In  1772,  in  response  to  a  Circular  from  the  town  of  Bos- 
ton, a  town  meeting  was  called  in  Gorham  to  express  the 
sense  of  our  citizens  on  "  the  Eights  of  the  Colonies  and  the 
several  infractions  of  those  rights."  Solomon  Lombard, 
Esq.,  was  chosen  Moderator ;  a  Committee  of  Safety  and 
Communication,  and  to  draw  up  Resolves  expressive  of  the 
sense  of  the  town  on  the  subject  matter  of  the  Boston  Circu- 
lar, Avas  raised.  The  committee  was  composed  of  nine  mem- 
bers, who  were  Solomon  Lombard,  Esq.,  Capt.  John  Phin- 
ney,  William  Gorham,  Esq.,  Capt.  Edmund  Phinney,  Elder 
Nathan  Whitney,  Caleb  Chase,  Capt.  Briant  Morton,  Jo- 
siah  Da\ds,  and  Benjamin  Shillings.  These  were  prominent 
citizens,  men  of  ability,  calmness,  energy  and  experience  in 
public  affairs.  The  assembled  freemen  of  Gorham  then 
voted  to  return  thanks  to  the  town  of  Boston  for  their 
vigilance  over  our  privileges  and  liberties  ;  the  meeting  was 
adjourned  one  week.  At  the  adjourned  meeting,  January 
7, 1773,  the  following  Preamble  and  Resolves  were  reported 
by  the  committee  and  adopted  by  the  citizens  : — 

"  We  find  it  is  esteemed  an  argument  of  terror  to  a  set  of 
the  basest  of  men,  who  are  attempting  to  enslave  us,  and 
who  desire  to  wallow  in  luxury  upon  the  expense  of  our 
earnings,  that  this  country  was  purchased  by  the  blood 
of  our  renowned  forefathers,  who,  flying  from  the  unre- 
lenting rage  of  civil  and  religious  tyranny  in  their  native 
land,  settled  themselves  in  this  desolate,  howling  wilderness. 
15 


114  HISTOET    OF    GORHAM. 

But  the  people  of  this  town  of  Gorham  have  an  argument 
still  nearer  at  hand  ;  not  only  may  we  say  that  Ave  enjoy  an 
inheritance  purchased  by  the  blood  of  our  forefathers,  but 
this  town  was  settled  at  the  eocpe?ise  of  our  own  hlood. 
We  have  those  among  us  whose  blood,  streaming  from  their 
own  wounds,  watered  the  soil  from  which  we  earn  our 
bread  !  Our  ears  have  heard  the  infernal  yells  of  the  sav- 
age, native  murderers  !  Our  eyes  have  seen  our  young 
children  weltering  in  their  gore  in  our  own  houses,  and  our 
dearest  friends  carried  into  captivity  by  men  more  savage 
than  the  savage  beasts  themselves !  Many  of  us  have  been 
used  to  earn  aur  daily  bread  with  our  weapons  in  our  hands  ! 
We  cannot  be  supposed  to  be  fully  acquainted  with  the  mys- 
teries of  Court  policy,  but  we  look  upon  ourselves  able  to 
judge  so  far  concerning  our  rights  as  men,  as  christians,  and 
as  subjects  of  the  British  Government,  as  to  declare  that  we 
apprehend  those  rights  as  settled  by  the  good  people  of 
Boston,  do  belong  to  us  ;  and  that  we  look  with  horror  and 
indignation  on  their  violation.  We  only  add  that  our  old 
Captain  is  still  living,  who  for  many  years  has  been  our 
chief  officer  to  rally  the  inhabitants  of  this  town  from  the 
plough  or  the  sickle,  to  defend  their  wives,  their  children, 
and  all  that  was  dear  to  them,  from  the  savages !  Many  of 
us  have  been  inured  to  the  fatigue  and  danger  of  flying  to 
garrison !  Many  of  our  watch  boxes  are  still  in  being,  the 
timber  of  our  Fort  is  still  to  be  seen ;  some  of  our  women 
have  been  used  to  handle  the  cartridge  or  load  the  musket, 
and  the  swords  we  sharpened  and  brightened  for  our  ene- 
mies are  not  yet  grown  rusty.     Therefore, 

Resolved.,  That  the  people  of  the  town  of  Gorham  are 
as  loyal  as  any  of  his  Majesty's  subjects  in  Great  Britain  or 
the  Plantations,  and  hold  themselves  always  in  readiness  to 
assist  his  Majesty  with  their  lives  and  fortunes  in  defence 
of  the  rights  and  privileges  of  his  subjects. 


THE    REVOLUTION.  115 

Resolved,  AVe  apprehend  that  the  g^c^•auces  of  Avhich 
we  justly  complain,  are  owing  to  the  corruptions  of  the  late 
Ministry,  in  not  suffering  the  repeated  petitions  and  remon- 
strances from  this  Province  to  reach  the  Royal  ear. 

Resolved,  It  is  clearly  the  opinion  of  this  town,  that  it  is 
better  to  risk  our  lives  and  foi'tunes  in  the  defence  of  our 
rights,  civil  and  religious,  than  to  die  by  piecemeals  in 
slavery  ! 

Resolved,  It  is  cleovrly  the  opinion  of  this  town,  that  the 
Parliament  of  Great  Britain  have  no  more  right  to  take 
money  from  us,  without  our  consent,  than  they  have  to  take 
money  without  consent  from  the  inhabitants  of  France  or 
Spain. 

Resolved^  That  the  foregoing  Resolves  and  Proceedings 
be  registered  in  the  Town  Clerk's  office,  as  a  standing  me- 
morial  of  the  value  that  the  inhabitants  of  this  town  put 
upon  their  rights  and  privileges." 

These  Resolves  were  signed  by  all  the  committee,  and 
passed  without  opposition. 

At  a  town  meeting  called  to  consider  the  exigency  of 
public  affairs,  January  25,  1774,  (which  meeting  was  very 
fully  attended,)  the  following  spirited  proceedings  were 
had: — 

"  1.  Resolved,  That  our  small  possessions,  dearly  pur- 
chased by  the  hand  of  labor,  and  the  industry  af  ourselves, 
and  our  dear  ancestors,  with  the  loss  of  many  lives,  by  a  bar- 
barous and  cruel  enemy,  are,  by  the  laws  of  God,  nature 
and  the  British  Constitution,  our  own,  exclusive  of  any  other 
claim  under  heaven. 

2.  Resolved,  That  all  and  every  part  and  parcel  of  the 
profits  arising  therefrom,  are  also  our  own,  and  that  none 
can,  of  right,  take  away  any  part  or  share  thereof,  without 
our  free  consent. 

3.  Resolved,  That  for  any  Legislative  body  of  men  under 


116  HISTORY   OF   GORHAM. 

the  British  Constitution  to  take,  or  grant  liberty  to  take,  any 
part  of  our  property,  or  profits,  without  our  consent,  is 
State  robbery,  and  ought  to  be  opposed. 

4.  Resolved,  That  the  British  ParHament  laying  a  tax 
on  Americans,  iov  the  purpose  of  raising  a  revenue,  is  a  vio- 
lation of  the  laws  of  religion,  and  sound  policy,  inconsis- 
tent with  the  principles  of  freedom,  that  has  distinguished 
the  British  Empire,  from  its  earliest  ages. 

5.  Resolved,  That  the  appropriating  this  Revenue  in 
supportj^of  a  set  of  the  vilest  of  the  human  race,  in  rioting 
in  luxury  on  our  spoils,  is  an  unprecedented  step  of  Admin- 
istration^and  appears  to  us  most  odious. 

6.  Resolved,  That  the  Tea  Act,  in  favor  of  the  East  India 
Company  to  export  the  same  to  America,  is  a  deep-laid 
scheme  to  betray  the  unwary  and  careless  into  the  snare  laid 
to  catch  and  enslave  them,  and  requires  the  joint  vigilance, 
fortitude,  and  courage,  of  the  thoughtful  and  the  brave  to 
oj)pose  in  every  constitutional  way. 

7.  Resolved,  That  petitioning  the  throne  carries  a  very 
gloomy  prospect,  so  long  as  his  Majesty  is  under  the  same 
influence  that  he  has  been  for  many  years  past. 

8.  Resolved,  That  other  methods  besides  Petitioning  are 
now  become  necessary  for  the  obtaming  and  securing  our 
just  rights  and  privileges. 

9.  Resolved,  That  the  measures  taken  by  the  town  of 
Boston  in  their  several  meetings  to  consult,  debate,  and  ad- 
vise, with  regard  to  the  tea  arrived  there,  merits  the  esteem 
and  regard  of  all  who  esteem  their  rights  worth  jjreserving, 
and  will  transmit  their  memory  to  unborn  ages  with  Honor. 

10.  Resolved,  That  the  unfeigned  thanks  of  the  Town 
of  Gorhara  wait  on  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  of 
the  metropolis,  and  all  the  good  People  that  shew  their  Zeal 
for  Liberty  in  their  late  Town  meetings,  and  may  our  indig- 
nation fall  on  all  who  are  enemies  to  our  happy  Constitution  ! 


THE   REVOLUTION.  117 

11.  Itesolved,  That  we  of  this  town  have  such  a  liigh 
relish  for  Liberty  that  we,  all  with  one  heart,  stand  ready 
sword  in  hand,  with  the  Italians  in  the  Roman  Republick, 
to  defend  and  maintain  our  rights  against  all  attempts  to  en- 
slave us,  and  join  our  brethren,  opposing  force  to  force,  if 
drove  to  the  last  extremity,  which  God  forbid." 

After  these  high-toned  resolutions  were  passed,  the  aged 
Capt.  Phinney  made  a  motion,  which  was  voted,  "  that  if 
any  person  of  Gorham  shall  hereafter  contemn,  despise,  or 
reproach  the  former  or  the  present  Resolves,  or  endeavor  to 
prevent  the  force  or  effect  of  the  same  among  this  people, 
he  shall  be  deemed,  held,  and  adjudged,  an  enemy  to  his 
country,  unworthy  the  company  or  regard  of  all  those  who 
are  the  professed  sons  of  freedom,  and  shall  be  treated  as 
infamous." 

It  was  then  voted  that  the  following  be  accepted  as  a  pref- 
ace to  the  foregoing  Resolves. 

"  When  we  contemplate  the  days  of  old,  the  years  of  an- 
cient times,  when  the  candle  of  the  Lord  shone  around  our 
Tabernacle,  and  the  Benign  rays  from  the  throne  beamed 
through  the  whole  of  our  American  atmosphere,  which 
placed  a  smile  on  every  face  and  joy  in  every  heart,  and 
each  Individual  sitting  under  his  own  Vine  and  Fig  tree, 
having  none  to  annoy  or  make  him  afraid,  enjoying  the 
fruits  of  his  own  industry.  In  this  golden  age  mutual 
Love  subsisted  between  the  mother  State  and  her  Colonies. 
The  mother  extended  her  powerful  arm  to  skreen  and  Pro- 
tect her  children  from  insult  and  ruin  ;  from  their  and  her 
natural  enemies,  who  would  have  attacked  them  on  their 
watry  frontier ;  in  return,  the  children  have  ever  been  obedi- 
ent to  the  requisitions  of  their  mother  in  raising  men  and 
money  to  the  enlargement  of  the  British  Empire  to  an 
amazing  extent,  and  this  without  complaint  or  even  a  single 
murmur,  although  they  thereby  endangered  their  own  bank- 


118  HISTORY   OF   GORHAM. 

ruptcy.  But  how  are  circumstances  changed  ?  '  0  tempora^ 
O  mores  /'  the  mother  lost  to  her  first  love  !  her  maternal 
affection  degenerated  into  a  cold  indifcrency,  if  not  a  fixed 
hatred  of  her  children,  as  is  too  evident  by  the  repitition  of 
one  revenue  act  after  another,  and  appointing  Egyptian 
task-masters,  if  not  worse,  or  cruelly  to  extort  from  us  our 
property,  without  so  much  as  to  say,  by  your  leave,  that 
they  may  wallow  in  luxury  on  our  spoils,  against  every 
principle  of  justice.  Human  or  Divine ;  And  the  Tools  of 
the  Administration,  among  ourselves,  have  used  every  meas- 
ure in  their  power  to  weaken  our  hands  and  subject  us  easily 
to  be  dragooned  in  chains  and  slavery,  not  by  dint  of  ar- 
gument, but  by  the  mere  force  of  the  power  placed  in  their 
hands  by  the  Mother  Country.  These  things  bearing  heavy 
on  our  minds,  and  not  altogether  sunk  below  all  human 
feelings,  We,  una  voce,  came  to  these  resolves." 

Then  follows  a  long  letter  to  the  Committee  of  Correspon- 
dence of  the  town  of  Boston,  filled  Avith  the  same  comjjlaints, 
and  strong  expressions  of  indignation  against  the  Eoyal 
Governor  or  officers  of  Massachusetts  and  the  towns  among 
us.  And  they  say  in  closing,  "  We  hope  and  trust  that  the 
inhabitants  of  this  town  will  not  be  induced  to  part  with 
their  privileges  for  a  little  paltry  herh  drink.''^ 

The  inhabitants  of  Gorham  felt  the  full  weight  of  the  re- 
sponsibilities resting  on  them,  and  bravely  determined  to  be 
faithful  to  their  sacred  trusts  ;  faithful  to  themselves,  and 
faithful  to  posterity.  They  avowed  themselves  ready  at  all 
times  to  aid  the  cause  of  freedom.  They  kept  up  an  able, 
active,  and  vigorous  Committee  of  Correspondence,  com- 
posed of  men  of  wisdom,  sagacity  and  firmness,  such  as  John 
and  Edmund  Phinney,  William  Gorham,  Solomon  Lombard, 
Prince  Davis,  Josiah  Davis,  Bcnj.  Shillings,  Caleb  Chase, 
Samuel  Whitmore,  Nathan  Whitney,  and  others.  These 
Committees  of  Correspondence  and  Vigilance,  were  estab- 


THE     REVOLUTION.  119 

lished  in  nearly  all  the  towns  In  the  country,  "  and  became 
the  executive  power  of  the  patriotic  party,"  producing  the 
happiest  concert  of  design  and  action  throughout  the  Colo- 
nies. James  Phinney,  son  of  Capt.  John,  was  Chairman  of 
the  Selectmen  during  most  of  the  trying  years  of  the  llevo- 
lution.  Lieut,  (afterwards  Col.)  Frost,  was  almost  inces- 
santly occupied  in  military  services  and  offices,  at  home, 
during  the  continuance  of  the  war. 

In  September,  1774,  Solomon  Lombard,  Esq.,  was  elected 
a  Representative  from  Gorham  to  attend  the  Provincial 
Congress,  and  a  large  Committee,  of  which  Nathan  Whit- 
ney was  Chairman,  was  raised,  to  draw  up  instructions  for 
the  Representative.     The  instructions  were  as  follows : — 

"  To   Solomon  Lombard^  Esq : — 

Sir — Whereas  you  are  chosen  by  the  Town  of  Gorham, 
to  represent  them  at  a  Great  and  General  Court,  or  Assem- 
bly to  be  begun  and  held  at  Salem,  on  Wednesday,  the 
fifth  day  of  October  next.  We  desire  you  to  observe  the 
following  Instructions,  viz  : — 

1st.  That  you  be  punctual  at  the  time  of  the  Court's 
sitting,  and  there,  so  far  as  you  may  have  influence,  main- 
tain and  support,  to  your  utmost,  all  our  Charter,  and  con- 
stitutional rights,  and  not  give  up  one  Iota  or  tittle  of 
them  to  any  supposable  poAver  on  earth. 

2d.  That  you  use  your  endeavors  to  obtain  a  vote  of  the 
House,  for  the  re- establishment  of  the  former  Charter  of 
this  Province. 

3d.  After  the  General  Court  is  adjourned,  prorogued  or 
dissolved,  we  instruct  you  to  joyn  with  the  other  members, 
which  compose  the  said  Court,  in  forming  themselves  into  a 
Provincial  Congress,  to  be  held  where  by  them,  may  be 
tho'  best,  in  order  to  Consult,  Debate,  and  Resolve  on  meas- 
ures proper  to  be  taken  and  pursued  by  the  People  of  this 


120  HISTORY    OF   GORHAM. 

Province,  in  order  to  secure  tliem  in  the  enjoyment  of  their 
Charter,  and  Constitutional  Kights  as  Freemen,  and  as 
Christians. 

Lastly.  Trusting  in  your  fidelity  and  wisdom,  we  doubt 
not  but  you'll  pursue  that  course  you  may  think  best  for 
the  general  good,  at  this  alarming  and  distressing  period. 
Wishing  you  success  in  all  your  undertakings,  we  are,  &c., 
your  humble  servants. 

By  Order  of  the  Town. 

WILLIAM  GORHAM,  Town  CUrhr 

In  the  early  days  of  our  town,  the  voters  often  gave  in- 
structions to  their  Representatives  on  important  questions, 
and  the  Representative  felt  bound  to  act  according  to  his 
instructions.  Mr.  Lombard  attended  this  Provisional  Con- 
gress, and  was  among  the  most  earnest  in  resisting  the  policy 
and  acts  of  Parliament  towards  the  Colonies.  That  Pro- 
vincial Congress  recommended  to  the  several  towns  not  to 
pay  the  State,  or  Province  taxes  to  Harrison  Gray,  the  Roy- 
alist Treasurer  of  the  Province,  and  in  accordance  with  that 
recommendation,  the  people  of  Gorham,  at  a  town  meeting 
held  Dec.  1st,  1773,  "  Voted,  That  Capt.  Edmund  Phinney 
be  a  Treasurer  to  receive  the  money  that  is,  or  may  be  due 
from  the  several  Collectors,  or  Constables  of  this  town  to 
the  Province,  and  transmit  the  same  to  Henry  Gardner,  Esq., 
of  Stow,  agreeably  to  the  recommendation  of  the  Provincial 
Congress."  From  that  time,  the  Royal  Treasury  received 
no  more  revenue  from  the  town  of  Gorham. 

The  Royalist  Province  Treasurer  was  incensed  at  the 
withholding  the  town's  proportion  of  the  State  tax,  and 
issued  a  peremptory  demand  for  payment,  whereupon  a 
Town  Meeting  was  called  January  5,  1775,  and  it  was 

Y^oted,,  "  That  the  Town  will  indemnify  the  Assessors, 
Constables,  and  Collectors,  of  Gorham,  in  their  refusing  to 


THE     REVOLUTION.  121 

make  return  to  Harrison  Gray,  Esq.,  on  his  warrant,  and  in 
paying  the  money  to  CoL  Edmund  Phinney,  instead  of  Har- 
rison Gray." 

Voted^  "  To  lay  out  ten  pounds  in  powder,  balls,  and 
flints,  to  increase  the  town  stock."  They  also  voted  to 
adopt  the  association  agreement  of  the  Congress  holden  at 
Phihidelphia  in  September,  1774. 

Votcd^  "  To  choose  a  committee  to  take  care  that  the 
plans  of  the  Continental  Congress  he  exactly  comjdied  with.^^ 
They  chose  Capt.  Briant  Morton  a  delegate  to  the  Provin- 
cial Congress  proposed  to  be  holden  at  Cambridge.  At  the 
same  meeting,  the  tOAvn  manifested  its  sympathy  for  the  suf- 
fering citizens  of  Boston,  by  choosing  a  large  committee 
"  to  see  that  a  quantity  of  wood  is  got  to  Falmouth,  to  send 
to  the  poor  of  Boston,  by  the  last  week  in  January." 

The  people  of  Gorham  did  not  raise  much  com  or  grain 
in  1774,  and  in  April,  1775,  an  informal  town  meeting  was 
held,  or  rather  a  voluntary  gathering  of  the  citizens,  who 
chose  a  committee  to  procure  breadstufFs  ;  and  at  a  regular 
town  meeting,  held  May  4,  1775,  it  was 

Voted^  "  That  whereas  a  quantity  of  Indian  corn  and 
flour  was  purchased  at  Falmouth,  by  Messrs.  Hugh  McLel- 
lan,  Prince  Davis,  Joseph  Gammon,  Josiah  Davis,  and  Dr. 
Stephen  Swett,  are  brought  into  this  town,  that  the  town 
do  establish  the  proceedings  of  said  men,  and  receive  the 
corn  and  flour,  and  become  liable  to  pay  the  sterling  cost  of 
the  same  in  Falmouth,  and  all  reasonable  expense  in  trans- 
porting the  same  to  this  town." 

Voted^  "That  the  Selectmen,  with  Mr.  Cary  McLellan 
and  Caleb  Chase,  be  a  committee  to  dispose  of  said  com, 
and  receive  pay  for  the  same." 

The  people  were  poor,  and  many  of  them  barely  able  to 
obtain  the  necessaries  of  life.     To  prevent  extortion,  the 
town  found  it  necessary  to  limit  the  prices  which  traders  and 
16 


122  HISTORY   OF   GORHAM. 

sellers  should  not  exceed.  Many  indispensable  articles — salt, 
corn,  meats,  shoes,  and  other  things — were  sold  at  prices 
fixed  by  a  committee  raised  for  that  purpose.  Though  sore- 
ly pressed  by  the  war,  the  patriotism  of  the  town  never 
flagged.  From  the  first  to  the  last  day  of  the  Revolution- 
ary struggle  this  town  complied,  and  more  than  complied, 
with  all  the  requisitions  of  Congress  and  the  Province,  for 
men,  food,  and  clothing,  for  the  army.  At  one  time,  the 
town  raised  four  hundred  dollars  for  the  purchase  of  beef, 
and  three  hundred  dollars  to  buy  clothing  for  the  army.  At 
one  town  meeting  the  inhabitants  voted  <£522  13s.  4d.,  for 
soldiers'  bounties  for  the  Continental  army.  The  town  voted 
$100  to  each  volunteer  who  would  go  to  reinforce  the  army 
of  General  Washington,  and  -$1500  was  voted  for  15  men 
who  volunteered,  and  <£100  lawful  money  was  raised  in  a 
single  year  to  supply  the  families  of  absent  soldiers. 

The  liberality  of  our  citizens  was  not  confined  to  our  own 
town.  We  have  already  mentioned  the  furnishing  of  wood 
for  the  poor  of  Boston  when  the  British  army  had  posses- 
sion of  that  place.  When  Portland  was  burned  by  a  Brit- 
ish fleet  in  October,  1775,  the  people  of  Gorham  sent  teams 
and  men  to  assist  the  distressed  inhabitants  of  Falmouth  in 
saving  their  effects,  and  they  removed  many  of  them  to  this 
town. 

At  a  town  meeting  held  May  20,  1776,  the  Freemen  of 
Gorham  being  generally  assembled,  "  Voted,  Unanimously, 
that  they  would  abide  by,  and  with  their  lives  and  fortunes 
support,  the  Honorable  Congress  in  the  measure,  if  they 
think  fit,  for  the  safety  of  these  United  Colonies,  to  declare 
themselves  independent  of  the  Kingdom  of  Great  Britain." 
So  early,  and  so  constantly  did  the  people  of  this  town  mani- 
fest their  attachment  to  freedom. 

When  the  Declaration  of  Independence  was  issued,  it 
was  liailed  with  joy  by  our  people,  unanimously  approved. 


THE     REVOLUTION.  123 

and  copied  in  full  on  the  town  records,  where  it  now  re- 
mains. 

October  7,  1776,  the  town  "  Voted,  That  the  present 
House  of  Representatives,  in  conjunction  with  the  Council 
of  the  State  of  Massachusetts  Bay  in  New  England,  by 
equal  voice,  consult,  agree  on,  and  enact  such  a  form  of 
Government,  as  on  the  fullest  and  most  mature  deliberation, 
they  shall  judge  will  most  conduce  to  the  Safety,  Peace, 
and  Happiness  of  the  State,  in  all  after  generations  and 
successions." 

Voted,  "  That  the  same  be  made  public,  for  the  inspection 
and  perusal  of  the  Inhabitants,  before  the  ratification  there- 
of by  the  Assembly." 

The  town  kept  a  committee  to  hunt  up  and  report  to  the 
Town  and  State  authorities,  the  names  of  all  Tories,  or  per- 
sons suspected  of  being  inimical  to  the  cause  espoused  by 
the  Colonies.  The  Committee  never  found  or  reported  but 
three  men  whom  they  considered  Tories,  and  the  town  Voted, 
"  That  Capt.  John  Stevenson  be  entered  on  the  Selectmens' 
List,  as  a  person  inimical  to  this,  and  the  United  States  in 
America."  "  Voted,  That  Mr.  Mcintosh  is  ditto.  Likewise 
Adam  Shalloon,  ditto." 

These  votes  were  passed  in  May,  1777.  At  the  next 
town  meeting,  held  June  19,  1777,  it  was  "  Voted  to  recon- 
sider the  vote  passed  at  a  legal  town  meeting  on  the  26th  of 
May  last,  wherein  Capt.  John  Stevenson  was  judged  by 
this  town  Inimical  to  this  and  the  United  States  of  America." 
After  the  peace  of  1783,  at  a  town  meeting  it  was  "  Voted, 
That  no  person,  or  persons,  who  have  joined  the  enemy  in 
the  late  war  against  these  United  States,  (otherwise  called 
Tories)  shall  be  suffered  to  abide  in  Gorham."  This  vote 
showed  the  temper  of  the  town,  but  it  was  not  fully  carried 
into  effect.  In  after  days,  Hon.  William  Tyng,  a  distin- 
guished Tory,  came  back  and  resided  here  till  he  died. 


124  HISTORY   OF   GORnAM. 


CHAPTEK    XV. 

GOEHAM    SOLDIERS. 

It  would  be  difficult,  if  not  impossible,  to  make  a  list  of 
all  the  Gorliam  men  who  served  in  the  Revolutionary  War. 
'Soldiers  for  the  Continental  army  were  sometimes  furnished 
by  the  town,  on  the  requisition  of  Congress,  and  the  towns 
were  called  upon  in  classes.  Thus  on  May  13,  1782,  Class 
No.  5,  for  Gorham,  furnished  Nathaniel  Wing,  a  soldier  for 
three  years.  The  class  that  was  to  procure  the  soldier,  in 
this  case,  paid  him  "  $20  in  silver  and  six  cows,  the  cows  to 
be  equal  to  cows  in  general."  This  agreement  was  signed 
by  Ebenezer  Murch,  William  McLellan,  and  Prince  Davis. 

If  any  town  did  not  furnish  its  quota  of  men,  the  same 
was  charged  against  the  town ;  if  the  town  furnished  more 
than  its  proportion,  the  soldier  was  discharged,  and  a  requi- 
sition made  on  some  deficient  town.  Thus  the  following 
Resolve,  touching  this  matter,  was  passed  by  the  Legislature 
of  Massachusetts,  Nov.  1,  1782 : — 

"  Resolve,  directing  the  Treasurer  to  discharge  the  town 
of  Gorham  from  the  deficiency  of  one  man,  and  directing 
Thomas  Porter  of  Topsfield  to  procure  a  man  in  lieu  thereof." 

On  petition  of  Thomas  Porter  and  Stephen  Longfellow, 
"  Resolved,  That  the  Treasurer  of  this  Commonwealth  be, 
and  hereby  is  directed  to  discharge  the  town  of  Gorham 
from  the  deficiency  of  one  man,  they  stand  charged  with, 
upon  the  Resolve  of  the  2d  of  December,   1780  ;  and  in 


THE    REVOLUTION. 


125 


order  to  prevent  a  deficiency  in  the  quota  of  men,  set  on  the 
town  of  Topsfield  by  the  aforesaid  Kesolve  ;  it  is  farther 
Resolved,  that  Thomas  Porter  of  Topsfickl,  one  of  said  peti- 
tioners, be  and  hereby  is  directed  to  procure  one  able-bodied 
man  to  serve  in  the  Continental  army  for  three  years,  or 
during  the  war,  before  the  10th  day  of  Dec.  next  In  case 
of  neglect  or  refusal,  he,  the  said  Porter,  shall  forfeit  and 
pay  a  fine  of  eighty-five  pounds,  thirteen  shillings." 

When  the  first  conflict  occurred  at  Lexino;ton  and  Con- 
cord,  a  Gorham  company  of  militia  was  already  organized 
and  armed.  The  following  is  the  Roll  of  Capt.  Hart  Wil- 
liams' company  in  the  31st  Regiment  of  Foot,  commanded 
by  Col.  Edmund  Phinney,  as  returned  April  24,  1775. 

OTFICERS. 


Hart  Williams,  Captain. 
William  JNIcLellan,  Lieut. 
Gary  McLellan,  Ensign. 
John  Perkins,  Sergeant. 
John  Phinney,  Jr.,    " 
James  Perkins,  " 


David  Watts,  Sergeant. 
Silas  Chadbourne,  Corporal. 
Enoch  Frost,  " 

William  Irish,  " 

Samuel  Gammon,        " 
Thomas  Bangs,  Drummer. 


Jeremiah  Jones,  Fifer. 


PRIVATES, 


Barnabas  Bangs, 
Joseph  Weymouth, 
Bickford  Dyer, 
Thomas  Gustin, 
Jeremiah  Hodsdon, 
Daniel  Maxwell, 
Thomas  Pote, 
John  Parker, 
Ezekicl  Hatch, 


Philip  Gammon, 
Ichabod  Hunt, 
Eben'r  Mitchell, 
Abijah  Lewis, 
James  Irish, 
Nathaniel  Lombard, 
Butler  Lombard, 
Owen  Runnels, 
Theodore  Rounds, 


126  HISTOKY    OF    GORIIAM. 

Paul  Whitney,  Elisha  Cobb, 

George  Robinson,  James  Jordan, 

Joseph  McDonald,  Nepthalim  Whitney, 

Peletiali  McDonald,  Jonathan  Sturgis, 

George  Hunt,  Prince  Hamblen, 

George  Waterhouse,  John  Whitney, 

Daniel  Whitney,  Joseph  McLellan, 

Thomas  Irish,  Joseph  Cressey, 

John  Melvin,  Silvanus  Brown, 

James  Morton,  Solomon  Green, 
Joshua  Hamilton. 

Four  of  this  company  belonged  to  other  towns,  viz : — 

Abijah  Lewis,  Buxton,  eTames  Jordan,  Falmouth. 

Theodore  Rounds,  Buxton.      Joshua  Hamilton,      " 

Silas  Chadbourne,  who  was  a  Corporal  in  Capt.  Wil- 
liams' Company,  became  a  Lieutenant  in  Col.  Patten's  Reg- 
iment, and  served  to  the  end  of  the  war,  as  did  also  many 
other  Gorham  soldiers. '  Those  who  survived  came  home 
poor  ;  the  Continental  bills,  with  which  they  were  paid, 
were  so  depreciated  that  seventy  dollars  of  that  currency 
was  worth  but  one  in  silver.  Some  of  our  soldiers  came 
home  on  foot  from  Hudson  River,  and  were  nine  and  ten 
days  in  performing  the  journey.  They  begged  their  food 
and  lodo-ing;  the  whole  distance.  Several  lived  to  an  ad- 
vanced  age,  and  received  pensions  from  Government,  which 
made  them  comfortable,  and  in  a  measure  indemnified  them 
for  early  losses.  A  large  number  of  Gorham  men  were  in 
companies  raised  chiefly  in  Falmouth,  Buxton,  and  Scarbor- 
ough. In  April,  1776,  tAventy-one  Gorham  men  were  pri- 
vates in  Capt.  Paul  Ellis'  company,  viz  : — Ebenezer  Murch, 
Joshua  Crockett,  William  Paine,  Joseph  McDaniell,  Richard 
Thurrell,  Joseph  Morse,  Josiah  Whitney,  Moses  Whitney, 
Ephraim  Jones,  Samuel  Brown,  Simeon  Brown,  John  Em- 


THE     REVOLUTION.  127 

ery,  Daniel  Emery,  Daniel  Whitmore,  John  Haskell,  Amos 
Rich,  Joseph  Kounds,  Henry  Jones,  Benjamin  A.  Jordan, 
John  Elder. 

Many  soldiers  from  this  town  died  in  the  army,  some  in 
the  British  prison  ships,  some  escaped  from  the  enemy  by 
shrewd  management  and  darino;  action. 

At  one  time,  Lient.  Gary  JNIcLellan,  with  about  ten  other 
Gorham  men,  were  in  a  privateer,  and  were  captured  by  the 
British  Captain  Mowat,  and  carried  into  New  York,  and 
placed  in  a  prison  ship,  where  they  suffered  greatly  by  hun- 
ger, disease,  and  want  of  suitable  air  and  clothing.  Colo- 
nel Tyng,  formerly  Sheriff  of  Cumberland  County,  being  a 
Loyalist,  was  at  that  time,  with  the  British  army  in  New 
York ;  he  found  out  our  Gorham  prisoners,  and  gave  them 
many  things  for  their  comfort.  The  British  officers  com- 
pelled our  men  to  get  wood  for  their  fires.  On  one  occa- 
sion they  sent  Lieut.  McLellan,  with  J.  Lombard,  J.  Simp- 
son, and  Wm.  McLellan,  Jr.,  (all  Gorham  men)  to  cut  and 
bring  a  boat  load  of  wood  to  an  English  war  vessel ;  they 
were  under  the  guard  of  an  orderly  officer,  and  two  armed 
privates.  They  went  some  miles  up  the  Hudson  river,  and 
were  proceeding  to  cut  their  wood.  McLellan  proposed  to 
the  Orderly,  that  if  he  would  permit  him  to  go  under  guard 
to  a  store,  about  a  mile  distant,  he  would  buy  some  good 
liquor ;  the  officer  consented,  and  with  a  British  soldier  as  a 
guard,  he  went  and  purchased  the  spirit.  McLellan  took  it 
to  their  camp,  and  found  means  to  make  known  his  plan  of 
escape  to  Lombard,  Simpson  and  McLellan,  Jr. ;  he  cau- 
tioned them  to  drink  sparingly  during  the  evening.  The 
evening  came — the  liquor  was  produced — they  all  drank. 
The  Gorham  men  feigned  intoxication  and  sleep.  The  Brit- 
ons drank  till  they  were  actually  tipsy,  and  fell  asleep.  Mc- 
Lellan and  his  friends  disarmed  their  English  companions, 
took  them  to  the  boat,  and  rowed  up  the  Hudson  till  they 


128  HISTORY   OF   GORHAM. 

got  within  the  American  lines,  and  then  delivered  up  their 
three  prisoners,  sold  their  boat,  and  came  home  to  Gorham 
on  foot. 

As  the  war  proceeded  the  prices  of  goods  became  very- 
high,  while  the  paper  currency  continued  to  depreciate,  and 
it  was  almost  impossible  for  the  poor  to  obtain  articles  of 
prime  necessity.  In  November,  1779,  the  town  "  chose  James 
Gilkey,  Lieut.  Gary  McLellan,  and  James  Phinney,  a  spe- 
cial Committee  to  fix  prices  of  articles  of  consumption." 
At  the  same  meeting  they  "  voted  20  per  cent,  bounty  on 
clothing,  provided  for  the  Continental  soldiers."  In  1781, 
the  town  "  Resolved  to  get  this  town's  quota  of  beef  and 
clothing  for  the  army,  and  those  who  furnish  clothing,  to 
have  twenty  shillings  for  a  shirt,  twelve  shillings  for  a  pair 
of  shoes,  seven  shillings  for  a  pair  of  stockings,  and  forty- 
two  shillings  for  a  blanket." 


THE    REVOLUTION.  129 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

THE   PENOBSCOT   EXPEDITION. 

The  unfortunate  expedition  to  Penobscot,  in  1779,  proved 
disastrous  to  the  American  arras.  The  failure  of  the  enter- 
prise was  attributed  to  the  obstinacy  or  treachery  of  Com- 
modore Richard  Saltonstall,  of  New  Haven  in  Connecticut. 
He  had  nineteen  vessels  of  war  in  his  fleet,  mounting  344 
guns.  General  Lovell,  of  Massachusetts,  commanded  the 
land  forces ;  Gen.  Peleg  Wadsworth  was  second  in  com- 
mand, and  was  undoubtedly  the  best  officer  in  the  American 
army  in  that  adventure.  There  were  about  one  thousand 
men  on  each  side.  On  the  14th  of  August,  a  battle  took 
place  at  Castine,  then  called  Buygaduce,  (usually  pro- 
nounced Bagaduce.)  The  contest  was  short  but  decisive. 
The  Americans  were  beaten  and  dispersed.  Our  officers  and 
men  fleeing  across  Penobscot  Bay  and  river,  landed  at  dif- 
ferent places  and  took  up  their  march,  or  rather  flight, 
towards  the  Kennebec,  in  small  squads  or  singly  ;  they  had 
to  travel  through  a  wild,  uncultivated  country,  eighty  or 
ninety  miles.  They  suffered  greatly  from  want  of  food,  and 
various  exposures  and  privations.  Some  perished  in  the 
forests  on  their  way. 

The  town  of  Gorham   shared  largely  in  that  expedition ; 

and  had  her  full  share  of  the  expense  and  sufferings.     Capt. 

Alexander  McLellan  led  a  Gorham  comjiany.     His  soldiers 

suffered  severely  in  those  eastern  woods.     Capt.  McLellan 

17 


130  HISTORY   OF   GORHAM. 

himself  was  seized  with  a  fever,  brought  on  by  fatigue  and 
anxiety,  and  died  on  the  fourth  of  October,  a  few  days  after 
his  arrival  home.  The  following  is  a  copy  of  a  letter,  (the 
original  is  now  lying  before  me,  1862,)  written  from  Port- 
land, at  the  time  of  his  starting  from  that  place  to  go  to 
Buygaduce : — 

"  To  the  Selectmen  of  GorJiam : — 

Gentlemen  : — I  am  obliged  to  carry  off  Austin  Alden's 
Drum,  or  go  without  one.  I  desire  you  to  pay  him  for  it, 
as  I  think  the  Selectmen  are  obliged  to  find  one  for  me  ;  I 
think  the  Drum  is  well  worth  Ten  pounds,  ten  shillings,  old 
way,  as  things  went  seven  years  ago. 
y^  Hub!  Serv*, 

ALEX^  M^LELLAN,   Capt. 
Falmouth,  July  15,  1779." 


ROLL  OF  CAPT.  ALEXANDER  McLELLAK'S  COMPACT, 

In  Colonel  Jonathan  IVJiitney's  Regiment,  in  the  Penobscot  Expedition. 

OFFI  CER  S. 

Alexander  McLellan,  Caj^t.     John  Emery,  Sergeant. 
Ebenezer  Murch,  1st  Lieut.  Daniel  Whitney,  Corporal. 
Joseph  Knight,  2d  Lieut.        Jeremiah  Hodsdon,     " 
James  Irish,  Sergeant.  Samuel  Files,  " 

George  Strout,     "  Joseph  McDonald,      " 

Stephen  Whitney,  Sergeant.  John  Lakeman,  Drummer. 

PRIVATES. 

Edmund  Phinney,  (Jr.  ?)        John  Blanchard, 
Benjamin  Haskell,  John  Gammon, 

Moses  Hanscom,  Samuel  Murch, 


THE    REVOLUTION. 


131 


John  Phlnney, 
Nathaniel  Bacon, 
'  "Wm.  McLellan, 
Lazarus  Rand, 
James  March, 
Richard  Lombard, 
Prince  Hamblen, 
John  Parker, 
Josiah  Swett, 
Peter  White, 
John  Meserve, 
William  Murch, 
Edward  Wilson, 
Zachariah  Weston, 
John  Akers, 
Benjamin  Stevens, 
Ebenezer  Whitney, 
Benjamin  Roberts, 
Charles  McDonald, 
Joseph  Irish, 
WiBiam  Meserve, 
Uriel  Whitney, 


Seth  Harding, 
Gershom  Davis, 
Daniel  Whitmore, 
Abner  Jordan, 
Moses  Jordan, 
John  Elwell, 
William  Irish, 
James  Stubbs, 
John  Davis, 
Samuel  Rounds, 
William  Files, 
Joshua  Davis, 
William  Wood, 
Abel  Whitney, 
Stephen  Powell, 
Asa  Thurlo, 
John  Harmon, 
James  Huntress, 
Samuel  Whitney, 
Isaac  Chase, 
James  Watson, 
Stephen  Sawyer, 
John  Smith. 


Joseph  Jones, 

The  old  soldiers  of  Gorham,  who  lived  till  after  the  United 
States  Pension  Acts  were  passed,  received  quite  an  amount 
of  money  in  the  aggregate,  which  greatly  benefitted  them, 
as  most  of  them  had  but  little  property. 

The  following  persons  in  Gorham  received  the  benefit  of 
the  Pension  Acts,  viz  : — 


OFFICERS  . 


Capt.  Oliver  Hunt, 
"     Josiah  Jenkins, 


Lieut.  William  McLellan, 
"      Ebenezer  Storer, 


132 


HISTORY   OF   GORHAM. 


Capt.  Joshua  Swett,  Lieut.  Timothy  Bacon, 

Lieut.  Silas  Chadbourne. 


PRIVATE 


Isaac  Whitney, 
John  Darling, 
Stephen  Whitney, 
Allison  Libby, 
Jonathan  Stone, 
Zebulon  Whitney, 
Edward  Webb, 
John  Watson, 
George  Waterhouse, 
Thomas  Irish, 
Matthias  Murch, 
Daniel  Whitney, 
Edward  Libby, 


Moses  Fogg, 
William  Files, 
Prince  Hamblen, 
Philip  Horr, 
John  Phinney, 
Samuel  Files, 
Ebenezer  Files, 
James  Morton, 
Thomas  Morton, 
John  Blake, 
Joseph  Blake, 
Isaac  Irish, 
William  Burton. 


Ebenezer  Storer,  Esq.,  drew  a  treble  pension,  one  as  Lieu- 
tenant, one  as  Paymaster,  and  one  as  Clothier  of  his  Regi- 
ment, having  performed  the  duties  of  all  said  offices  at  the 
same  time.  Lieut.  Storer  was  a  native  of  Wells,  Maine  ;  he 
was  not  seventeen  years  of  age  when  he  enlisted,  April  17, 
1776,  as  a  non-commissioned  officer  in  Col.  Phinney's  Regi- 
ment. He  served  till  December,  1776,  and  then  received  an 
Ensign's  commlsson  in  the  12th  Massachusetts  Regiment, 
commanded  by  Col.  Samuel  Brewer  ;  served  there  till  1779, 
when  he  was  transferred  to  the  2d  Massachusetts  Regiment, 
as  first  Lieut,  and  Paymaster  ;  this  Regiment  was  under 
Lieut.  Col.  Commandant  Ebenezer  Sprout,  and  continued 
in  that  Regiment  till  the  peace  of  1783.  Mr.  Storer  was 
one  of  the  society  of  the  Cincinnati.  He  Avas  highly  re- 
spected in  our  town,  and  was  a  gentleman  of  military  tastes, 


THE     KEVOLUTION.  133 

and  polished  manners,     tie  closed  his  useful  life  at  Gorham, 
January  20,  1846,  aged  87  years. 


MILITARY. 

It  is  not  possible  to  ascertain  when  the  first  military  or- 
ganization took  place  in  this  town.  The  settlers  must  have 
had  guns  and  ammunition  when  they  came  here,  both  as  a 
means  of  defense  against  wild  animals  and  to  procure  meat 
for  their  own  living.  Moose,  deer,  and  bears,  were  numerous, 
and  for  some  years  furnished  the  people  with  most  of  their 
animal  food.  It  soon  also  became  necessary  to  defend  them- 
selves against  savages.  Their  mutual  dangers  would  lead 
them  to  combine  for  their  common  safety  ;  a  leader  or  com- 
mander would  then  be  necessary,  and  we  find  Mr.  John  Phin- 
ney  the  acknowledged  head  or  captain  when  there  were  not 
more  than  twenty  men  in  the  township.  Whether  Captain 
Phinney  ever  had  a  commission  I  have  not  learned,  but  it  is 
presumed  he  had  one,  as  he  ultimately  commanded  quite  a 
company  of  armed  men,  and  made  returns  of  his  force. 
Scouts  in  small  parties  were  sent  out  to  take  or  kill  Indians. 
These  looked  to  Capt.  Phinney  for  general  plans  and  orders  ; 
and  when  in  the  Indian  war,  Massachusetts  furnished  this 
township  eleven  soldiers  for  protection,  they  were  placed 
under  Capt.  John  Phinney's  command.  There  was  a  large 
military  company,  over  which  Edmund  Phinney  was  Captain, 
previous  to  the  commencement  of  the  Revolutionary  war. 
Until  1789,  there  was  but  one  militia  company  in  Gorham. 
During  that  year  that  company  was  divided  ;  a  third  com- 
pany was  formed  not  long  afterwards,  and  since  1800,  com- 
panies of  cavalry,  light  infantry  and  riflemen,  have  been 
organized.      When   the   militia   system   was   changed,    or 


134  HISTOKY   OF   GORHAM. 

rather  abandoned,  some  twenty  years  ago,  these  companies 
ceased  to  exist.  Some  five  or  six  years  since,  a  volunteer 
company  was  formed,  which  was  furnished  with  arms  by 
the  State.  They  called  themselves  the  "  Gorham  Light 
Guard."  This  company  languished  and  died,  and  their  arms 
have  been  surrendered  to  the  State.  The  days  of  training 
and  general  muster  have  passed  away,  and  the  only  organ- 
ized company  in  town  is  an  efficient  Fire  Company  in  our 
principal  village,  who  work  an  excellent  fire  engine  success- 
fully. In  the  former  part  of  this  century,  this  town  was  the 
place  for  Regimental  musters,  and  sometimes  a  whole  Brig- 
ade convened  at  Gorham  village,  and  passed  two  or  three 
successive  days  in  military  exercise.  These  musters  were 
the  grand  holidays  of  the  year  for  our  young  people,  and 
the  sellers  of  drinks,  fruits,  and  confectionary.  The  moral 
effect  of  these  trainings  and  musters  was  never  salutary. 
They  sowed  and  nourished  the  seeds  of  intemperance. 


POLITICS.  135 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

POLITICS. 

The  people  of  this  town  have  always  exhibited  a  lively  in- 
terest in  State  and  National  politics.  In  days  of  general  party 
excitement,  they  have  not  been  backward  in  freely  express- 
ing their  opinions  of  men  and  measures.  Matters  of  Admin- 
istration have  sometimes  been  discussed,  not  only  with 
warmth,  but  with  asperity  and  prejudice.  Yet  our  citizens 
have  always  been  patriotic,  always  loved  their  country  and 
form  of  government.  As  long  ago  as  1765,  when  the  Brit- 
ish Stamp  act  was  passed,  our  people  took  a  deep  interest  in 
that  measure,  and  were  unanimous  in  their  condemnation  of 
the  act.  When  the  exciting  scenes  of  our  Revolution  and 
Independence  occurred,  our  to^\Tismen  entered  into  them 
with  earnest  zeal.  During  those  years,  and  through  Wash- 
ington's presidency,  they  were  nearly  aU  united  in  political 
opinions  ;  and  when  party  lines  were  more  distinctly  drawn, 
in  the  days  of  John  Adams  and  Thomas  Jefferson,  almost 
all  our  voters  were  of  the  Federal  party,  and,  though  there 
were  animated  contests,  the  Democratic  ticket  rarely  had  the 
majority  till  after  the  administration  of  Mr.  Monroe.  When 
the  Constitution  of  Massachusetts  was  formed,  it  had  few 
opposers  here.  When  Jay's  Treaty  with  England  was 
negotiated,  nearly  all  our  townsmen  were  in  favor  of  its 
ratification.  Mr.  Jefferson's  administration  was  strongly 
condemned.     Party  spirit  ran  high,  and  nearly  all  Mr.  Jef- 


136  HISTORY    OF    GORHAM. 

ferson's  acts,  even  tliat  wise  and  highly  beneficial  one — the 
purchase  of  Louisiana — was  strongly  disapproved  by  the 
dominant  party  in  Gorham.  The  Embargo,  especially,  was 
considered  an  atrocious  act ;  that  It  bore  heavily  on  our  com- 
mercial people  cannot  be  questioned.  A  town  meeting  was 
held  here,  and  our  voters  expressed  a  strong  disapprobation 
of  the  measure. 

At  a  town  meeting,  held  on  the  29th  day  of  August,  1808, 
among  other  things,  it  was  Voted,  "  That  the  Honorable 
Stephen  Longfellow,  CajDtain  David  Harding,  Jr.,  Captain 
Silvanus  Davis,  Doctor  Dudley  Folsom,  and  John  Park 
Little,  Esq.,  be  a  committee  to  prepare  a  petition  to  the 
President  of  the  United  States,  praying  him  to  suspend  the 
embargo."     That  committee  presented  the  following  petition. 

"  To  the  President  of  the  United  States : — 

The  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Gorham,  in  legal  town 
meeting  assembled,  beg  leave  respectfully  to  represent  that 
they  are  fully  aware  of  the  Indispensable  necessity  of  sup- 
porting, at  all  times,  the  laws  enacted  by  the  government  of 
their  choice ;  under  this  impression,  they  have  refrained 
from  expressing  their  most  ardent  desire  to  have  the  Embargo 
removed.  Although  they  are  an  agricultural  town,  yet  their 
proximity  to  Portland,  the  most  considerable  commercial 
town  In  the  District,  has,  for  many  years  past,  led  them  con- 
siderably Into  trade  with  the  people  there.  Large  quantities 
of  Beef,  Butter,  Lumber,  &c.,  have  been  annually  transport- 
ed from  this  place  to  that,  by  means  of  which  the  Inhabitants 
of  this  town  have  made  a  comfortable  living,  and  have  ac- 
cumulated property,  but,  since  the  embargo  has  taken  place 
and  commerce  has  been  stoj)ped,  they  sensibly  feel  the  inti- 
mate connection  there  is  between  agriculture  and  commerce, 
indeed  they  find  it  will  be  almost  impossible  for  the  former  to 
exist  without  the  latter.     Debts  incurred  by  them  previous  to 


POLITICS.  137 

the  embargo,  which  would  have  been  discharged  with  ease  if 
commerce  had  flourished  as  formerly,  they  now  find  cannot 
be  paid  at  all  because  they  cannot  possibly  obtain  money 
enough  to  discharge  their  taxes,  which  are  continually  ac- 
cumulating ;  the  surplus  of  their  agricultural  productions, 
and  their  lumber,  are  left  to  perish  for  want  of  a  market ; 
they  therefore  pray  that  the  Embargo  (which  they  think  is 
the  sole  cause  of  their  distress)  may  be  suspended,  and  that 
your  Excellency  would  do  everything  in  your  power  to  effect 
so  desirable  an  object." 

The  town  voted  that  the  Selectmen  forward  the  foreo-oins: 
petition  to  the  President  of  the  United  States  immediately. 
Numerous  petitions  from  other  towns,  where  the  Federal 
party  were  in  the  ascendancy,  were  gotten  up  and  sent  to 
the  President  for  the  same  purpose. 

Congress  laid  the  embargo,  Dec.  22,  1807,  "  to  preserve 
our  neutrality,  the  Honor  of  our  Flag,  and  the  Rights  of 
sailors  inviolate."  England  and  France,  by  most  unright- 
eous and  belligerent  Decrees  and  Orders  in  Council,  had 
subjected  neutral  vessels  to  search,  seizure,  and  confiscation. 
England  had  impressed  many  American  seamen,  and  held 
them  in  galling  bondage.  She  declared  she  would  never 
surrender  the  right  of  searching  our  vessels,  and  taking 
from  them  any  persons  who  had  ever  been  British  sub- 
jects. We  have  lived  to  see  her  surrender  that  so  termed 
right. 

There  was  a  town  meeting  held  on  the  30th  day  of  Jan- 
uary, 1809,  "  for  the  purpose  of  considering  the  present  dis- 
tressed situation  of  our  National  affiiirs."  Hon.  Stephen 
Longfellow,  Doctor  Dudley  Folsom,  Rev.  Reuben  Nason, 
John  P.  Little,  Esq.,  and  Deacon  Thomas  Cross,  were  chosen 
a  Committee  to  prepare  Resolutions  to  present  to  the  town 
at  an  adjourned  meeting.  The  meeting  was  adjourned  to 
February  2d,  1809.  The  Committee  then  reported  the  fol- 
18 


138  HISTORY   OF   GORHAM. 

lowing  Resolutions,  which  were  unanimously  accepted  by 
the  town  meeting  : — 

"  Resolved^  That  we  deem  it  a  right  vested  in  us  by  the 
Constitution  of  our  country,  peaceably  to  assemble  together, 
and  freely  to  express  our  sentiments  of  the  measures  of 
government,  and  when  grievances  are  felt  to  seek  proper 
redress. 

Mesolvedf  That  we  consider  the  present  state  of  our  coun- 
try as  calling  loudly  for  the  exercise  of  this  right. 

Hesolved,  That  we  consider  the  measures  of  the  National 
Government,  in  relation  to  commerce,  and  particularly  in  the 
several  Acts  Laying  and  enforcing  an  Embargo,  oppressive, 
unconstitutional,  and  threatening  the  most  dangerous  conse- 
quences. 

Resolved^  That  we  consider  the  prosperity  of  every  class 
of  citizens,  and  especially  in  the  northern  States,  as  essen- 
tially dependent  on  commerce,  and  those  acts  of  the  govern- 
ment are  arbitrary  and  oppressive,  by  which  our  intercourse 
with  foreign  nations  Is  totally  suspended,  and  our  domestic 
intercourse  laid  under  such  restrictions,  as  renders  it.  In  all 
cases  hazardous,  and  in  most  instances,  impracticable  to  pur- 
sue it,  while  we  fully  believe  neither  our  relations  with  for- 
eign powers,  nor  national  honor,  nor  wise  policy,  have  de- 
manded such  sacrifices. 

Resolved,  That  we  deem  it  unconstitutional  for  Congress, 
to  whom  is  delegated  only  a  power  to  regulate  commerce,  to 
destroy  it,  or  prohibit  it  by  law,  for  an  unlimited  term  of 
time  ;  that  we  consider  the  property  of  Individuals  by  the 
laws  aforesaid,  to  expose  to  unreasonable  search,  seizure,  and 
forfeiture,  excessive  bonds  required,  and  undue  penalties  ex- 
acted, contrary  to  express  provisions  in  the  Constitution, 
that  exorbitant  power  over  the  Hves  and  fortunes  of  the 
people,  vested  in  Revenue  and  Military  officers,  and  the  dic- 
tatorial power,  with  which  the  President  Is  clothed,  are  not 


POLITICS.  139 

consistent  with  the  Constitution,  nor  the  principles  of  a  free 
government. 

Resolved,  That  we  view  with  alarming  apprehensions  the 
contemplated  establishment  of  a  Large  Army  in  time  of 
peace,  to  be  placed  at  the  uncontrolled  disposal  of  the  Pres- 
ident, while  in  history  we  trace  the  downfall  of  the  liberties 
of  Greece,  Rome,  and  almost  every  other  free  State  to  sim- 
ilar measures,  while  in  our  own  time  we  have  seen  how 
much  one  man,  with  a  soldiery  devoted  to  him,  has  done 
towards  enslaving  the  world  ;  and  while  we  consider  the 
dreadful  purposes,  which  disguised  ambition,  even  in  those 
who  have  made  the  highest  pretensions  to  patriotism  has 
conceived  and  elFected,  we  cannot  forbear  to  express  our  be- 
lief that  this  measure  is  portentous  and  hostile  to  the  Con- 
stitution and  liberties  of  our  country. 

Resolved,  That  we  entertain  a  lively  sense  of  the  benefits 
which  the  faithful  administration  of  the  government  by 
Washington  and  Adams,  and  their  wise  policy,  were  instru- 
mental in  procuring  us,  and  that  we  consider  the  evils  we 
now  endure  in  p,  great  measure  occasioned  by  a  dereliction 
of  the  policy  adopted  and  pursued  by  them. 

Resolved,  That  we  highly  approve  the  patriotic  and  spir- 
ited exertions  of  the  minority  in  Congress,  to  preserve  the 
Constitution  and  protect  the  interest  of  the  nation. 

Resolved,  That  we  view  with  approbation,  the  conduct  of 
those  officers  in  the  Revenue  Department,  Avho  choosing  to 
sacrifice  private  emolument  rather  than  be  instrumental  in 
enforcing  oppressive  laws,  have  resigned  their  ofiSces,  and 
that  we  consider  their  conduct  worthy  of  imitation. 

Resolved,  That,  as  we  despair  of  obtaining  redress  from 
the  National  Government,  a  respectful  petition  be  presented 
to  the  Legislature  of  this  Commonwealth,  praying  that  they 
will  adopt  such  measures  as  they  in  their  wisdom  shall  think 
best,  to  remove  present  grievances,  and  prevent  those  evils 
which  threaten  our  liberties  and  fortunes." 


140  HISTORY    OF   GORHAM. 

Such  a  petition  as  recommended  by  the  foregoing  Re- 
solves, and  embodying  similar  complaints,  was  sent  to  the 
Legislature  of  Massachusetts.  But  Massachusetts  herself 
could  do  nothing  but  protest,  resolve,  and  petition.  At  the 
same  meeting  the  town  chose  a  Committee  of  Safety  and 
Correspondence. 

The  continued  agressions  of  the  Eng-lish  brought  on  the 
war  which  was  declared  by  the  United  States,  June  18, 
1812,  against  Great  Britain.  That  war  was  as  distasteful  to 
the  Federal  party  as  was  the  embargo.  A  majority  of  the 
people  of  this  town  was  strongly  opposed  to  the  measure. 
Town  meetings  were  held,  and  very  decided  Resolutions 
were  passed  condemnatory  of  the  war,  and  the  administra- 
tion of  the  General  Government.  They  believed  the  war 
unnecessary,  and  menacing  ruin  to  themselves  and  posterity. 
That  the  Government  at  Washington  was  weak,  distracted, 
and  corrupt.  Few  Gorham  men  entered  the  army  of  the 
United  States  in  the  war  of  1812-15.  Gov.  Strong;  de- 
clined  to  place  the  State  militia  under  United  States'  officers. 
Some  companies  of  soldiers  were  marched  to  Portland,  for 
the  defence  of  that  place,  when  an  invasion  was  apprehended. 
Gen.  James  Irish's  Brigade  were  ordered  to  Portland,  and 
went  there  In  1814.  The  militia  of  Gorham,  consisting  of 
four  companies  of  Infantry,  and  one  of  Cavalry,  composed 
a  part  of  said  Brigade.  These  companies  were  commanded 
by  Captains  Toppan  Robie,  Barnabas  Higgins,  Jacob  P. 
Bettes,  and  the  company  of  Light  Infantry,  by  Capt.  Robert 
McLellan.  These  troops  did  not  long  remain  In  Portland  ; 
some  three  months,  the  larger  part  not  longer  than  fifteen  or 
twenty  days  ;  this  service,  however,  enabled  many  of  these 
soldiers  to  obtain  Land  Warrants  under  an  Act  of  Congress, 
passed  a  few  years  ago.  The  British  did  not  land,  but  their 
fleet  hovered  awhile  near  the  coast,  and  gathered  some  sup- 
plies from  the  islands.     No  injury  was  done  to  Portland, 


POLITICS. 


141 


except  the  expense  Incurred  by  the  alarm.  Many  families 
moved  their  most  valuable  effects  to  Gorliam  for  greater  se- 
curity. 

The  following  is  the  Roll  of  Capt.  Eobie's  company  that 
marched  to  Portland  : — 

OFFICERS. 

Toppan  Robie,  Capt.,  Nathaniel  Hatch,  Lieut., 

William  Frost,  Ensign. 


PRIVATES. 


Samuel  G.  Scribner, 
George  Knight, 
Samuel  Brown, 
Ephraim  Bragdon, 
Isaac  Coolbroth, 
George  Fogg, 
Daniel  Hunt, 
Seth  Harding,  Jr., 
Josiah  Jenkins, 
Cotton  Lincoln, 
Lemuel  Libby,  Jr., 
James  McLellan,  Jr., 
David  Burnell, 
Perez  Burr, 
Nathaniel  Crockett, 
WiUiam  Edwards, 
Daniel  H.  Frost, 
John  Harding,  3d, 
Seward  Merrill, 
Nathan  Penfield, 
Joshua  Roberts, 
Joseph  Rice, 


James  Babb, 
Luther  Davis, 
Joshua  Freeman, 
Nathan  Hanson, 
Gardiner  Alden, 
Nahum  Lord, 
Joseph  Lombard,  Jr., 
Moses  Murch, 
Samuel  Paine, 
Robert  Harding, 
Joseph  Harding, 
Elisha  Irish, 
Philip  Larrabee, 
Darius  Libby, 
Wm.  McLellan,  Jr., 
Samuel  F.  Mosher, 
Alexander  Phinney, 
Lemuel  Rice, 
Caleb  Seaver, 
George  Strout, 
David  Warren, 
Edmund  Gammon, 


142  HISTORY   OF   GORHAM. 

Abner  P.  Towle,  William  Blanchard, 

David  Waterhouse,  Uriah  Gibbs, 

John  Hanscom,  Samuel  Roberts, 

Daniel  Fogg,  Moses  Rice, 

Nathaniel  Rice,  Ai  Staples, 

John  McQuillan,  Thomas  Worster, 

John  Farnham,  Thomas  S.  Robie, 

Levi  Brown,  John  Rice, 
John  Cressey. 

I  have  not  been  able  to  obtain  the  Rolls  of  the  other  Gor- 
ham  companies.  The  war  of  1812,  was  terminated  by  the 
Treaty  of  Peace  of  Dec,  1814.  This  town  immediately  felt 
the  influence  of  reviving  commerce ;  trade  increased,  and 
wealth  was  augmented.  The  population  of  this  town  in- 
creased but  slowly,  having  no  large  manufacturing  establish- 
ments, and  the  land  being  nearly  occupied  for  farming ;  and 
in  the  present  mode  of  conducting  agricultural  pursuits,  our 
farms  cannot  well  support  more  inhabitants.  Although  the 
population  has  constantly  increased,  yet  the  increase  has 
been  so  light  that  we  have  but  about  one  thousand  more 
£0uls  than  there  were  in  town  seventy  years  ago. 


SEPARATION   OF   MAINE,   ETC.  143 


CHAPTEE    XVIII. 

SEPARATION  OF  MAINE  AND  OTHER  MATTERS. 

Maine  being  entirely  disjoined  from  Massachusetts,  it  was 
always  more  or  less  inconvenient  for  tlie  people  of  the  Dis- 
trict to  have  a  political  connection.  This  evil  was  felt  at  an, 
early  period.  At  a  town  meeting  held  December  5,  1785, 
it  was  Voted  "  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  town  that  it 
would  be  for  the  interest  of  the  counties  of  York,  Cumber- 
land, and  Lincoln,"  (the  whole  of  the  District  of  Maine) 
"to  be  incorporated  into  a  separate  State;"  and  Edmund 
Phinney,  Esq.,  and  Stephen  Longfellow,  Esq.,  were  chosen 
delegates  to  a  convention,  "  to  be  holden  at  Falmouth  (Port- 
land) on  the  first  Wednesday  of  January,  1786,  to  consider 
of  the  expediency  of  a  separate  State."  After  some  discus- 
sion the  convention  adjourned. 

At  a  town  meeting  in  April,  1786,  "  Voted,  to  choose  dele- 
gates to  the  convention  to  be  held  at  Falmouth  in  Septem- 
ber next,  to  consider  the  grievances  the  inhabitants  of  the 
Counties  of  York,  Cumberland,  and  Lincoln,  labor  under, 
and  to  adopt  and  pursue  some  orderly  and  peaceable  meas- 
ure to  obtain  relief;"  this  vote  was  110  in  the  affirmative 
and  but  two  in  the  negative.  Hon.  William  Gorham,  Col. 
Edmund  Phinney,  and  Stephen  Longfellow,  Jr.,  Esq.,  were 
chosen  delegates.  The  Convention  met  in  September,  and 
organized  by  electing  Hon.  William  Gorham  President  of 
the  Convention,  and  Stephen  Longfellow,  Jr.,  Clerk.     The 


144  HISTORY   OF   GORHAM. 

question  of  separation  was  earnestly  discussed,  but  there  ap- 
pears to  have  been  nothing  farther  done  at  that  time.  The 
town  again  voted  on  this  subject  in  1792,  75  in  favor  of 
separation  and  16  against  it.  In  1793,  Stephen  Longfellow, 
Josiah  Thacher,  and  Gary  McLellan,  were  chosen  delegates 
to  a  convention  to  consider  the  expediency  of  separation. 
The  question  was  again  voted  upon  in  1795,  when  there 
were  51  for  the  measure  and  seven  against  it.  This  small 
vote  would  seem  to  indicate  that  the  people  in  general  felt 
little  interest  in  the  matter,  or  had  become  wearied  in  their 
efforts  to  make  Maine  a  separate  State.  The  affair  was 
revived  with  much  spirit  in  1815.  The  Massachusetts  Leg- 
islature had  consented  to  a  separation,  provided  that  five 
ninths  of  the  votes  in  Maine  should  be  in  favor  of  it.  A 
large  Convention  of  delegates  assembled  at  Brunswick  in 
October.  This  Convention  embraced  many  of  the  most 
able  men  of  Maine.  The  delegates  from  Gorham  were 
Lothrop  Lewis,  David  Harding,  Jr.,  and  Samuel  Stephen- 
son. A  constitution  was  formed  and  submitted  to  the  peo- 
ple, buf  it  failed  of  receiving  the  five-ninths  of  the  votes 
required  for  its  adoption.  The  vote  in  Gorham,  on  this 
trial,  was  127  for  separation  and  180  against.  In  1819, 
another  and  successful  effort  was  made  to  dissolve  the  polit- 
ical relations  between  Massachusetts  and  the  District  of 
Maine.  A  large  and  able  Convention  met  in  Portland  to 
form  a  Constitution.  The  delegates  from  Gorham  were 
Lothrop  Lewis,  James  Irish,  and  Joseph  Adams.  The  pres- 
ent Constitution  of  Maine  was  then  formed  ;  the  vote  in  Gor- 
ham was  183  in  favor  of  separation  and  95  against  the  meas- 
ure, and  the  final  vote  on  adopting  the  Constitution  was  94 
for  it  and  one  against  it. 

The  vote  in  Gorham  on  the  acceptance  of  the  Constitution 
of  Massachusetts  in  May,  1780,  was  47  for,  and  six  against, 
its  adoption. 


SEPARATION    OF   MAINE,   ETC.  145 

CTSTOMS  AND  MAXNERS  OF  THE  EARLY  SETTLERS. 

Most  of  the  settlers  of  Gorliam,  like  the  pioneers  in  other 
new  places,  Avere  poor.  Hard,  continuous  labor  was  requi- 
site to  supply  ordinary  food  and  clothing.  Most,  if  not  all, 
of  them  lived  in  log  houses,  with  few  articles  of  furniture 
or  convenience ;  their  barns,  or  rather  hovels,  were  small, 
rude  structures  of  logs,  the  roofs  covered  with  bark,  or  at 
best  with  long  shingles,  without  boards.  These  shingles 
were  split  from  straight-grained  Avhitc  pine  trees ;  the  pine 
being  the  lightest,  most  durable,  and  easiest  wood  to  work, 
or  manufacture,  that  grew  in  our  forests.  The  hardships 
the  settlers  endured  were  well  calculated  to  bring  forth  and 
mature  vigor  of  body  and  mind  ;  exposed  to  mutual  dangers, 
and  feeble  when  alone,  they  were  compelled  to  assist  each 
other,  and  to  watch  and  labor  together,  and  thus  neighborly 
kindness  and  hospitality  would  of  course  be  promoted  ;  they 
were  always  welcomed  to  each  other's  houses  and  tables ; 
and  they  loaned  their  food,  implements,  and  animals,  with- 
out stint,  or  hope  of  pecuniary  reward.  They  had  few  holi- 
days. Independence  Day  had  not  yet  come.  The  usual 
Colonial  Thanksgiving,  near  the  close  of  the  year,  was  their 
chief  festival.  They  made  no  account  of  Christmas,  and 
but  little  notice  was  taken  of  the  King's  birth-day.  There 
were  some  families  who  made  extra  cake,  and  had  little  par- 
ties on  May  Election  day.  The  raising  of  buildings,  and  the 
annual  militia  trainings,  were  almost  the  only  occasions  which 
called  the  young  men  together.  Some  autumnal  husklngs 
of  the  larger  farmers  called  out  the  neighbors,  and  they  were 
usually  seasons  of  hilarity  and  good  cheer ;  songs,  stories, 
and  grog,  were  the  customary  accompaniments  of  the  husk- 
ing work ;  when  that  was  completed,  a  bountiful  and  good 
supper  followed ;  when  this  was  ended,  the  young  men  and 
girls,  who  had  assisted  in  preparing  and  serving  out  the 
19 


146  HISTORY   OF   GORHAM. 

supper,  indulged  in  rustic  dances,  performed  to  the  music  of 
some  tunes  sung  or  whistled.  Sometimes  there  were  quilt- 
ins;  meetino;s  of  maidens  who  assisted  in  the  makino;  of  the 
quilt,  and  not  unfrequently  young  men  would  gather  in  the 
evening  and  have  sports,  plays,  or  dancing.  There  was  but 
little  distinction  on  account  of  rank  or  wealth.  The  neigh- 
borly calls  of  older  women,  or  married  ladies,  were  made  in 
the  afternoon,  singly  or  in  small  parties ;  the  visitors  remained 
to  tea,  or  supper,  and  returned  to  their  homes  early.  The 
usual  mode  of  conveyance,  when  sleighs  could  not  be  used, 
was  on  horseback,  and  not  unfrequently  the  good  wife  rode 
on  the  same  horse,  seated  behind  her  husband.  On  these 
visits,  females  commonly  had  their  knitting  or  sewing,  work 
with  them  ;  all  were  too  poor  to  spend  much  time  in  idleness. 

In  all  the  schools  kept  by  females,  the  girls  were  taught 
knitting  and  sewing,  as  well  as  reading  and  spelling ;  once 
a  week,  generally  on  Saturday,  all  the  scholars  were  ex- 
amined and  instructed  in  the  shorter  Catechism.  The  dress 
of  our  ancestors  was  plain,  durable  clothing,  mostly  home 
made.  The  men  and  boys  wore  woolen  frocks  and  breeches, 
dyed  with  yellow  oak  or  hemlock  bark ;  the  females,  short 
loose  gowns  and  skirts,  of  woolen,  colored  blue  or  red,  with 
checked  blue  and  white  aprons  ;  all  manufactured  at  home. 
Their  table  coverings  and  napkins,  as  well  as  sheetings 
and  shirting  cloths,  were  made  of  flax,  raised  on  their 
land  and  spun,  woven,  and  bleached  by  the  mothers  and 
daughters. 

They  had  few  superfluities.  Their  chief  agricultural  pro- 
ducts were  corn  and  hay.  Wheat,  oats,  rye,  beans  and  peas 
throve  well ;  peas,  especially,  were  much  'used  in  making 
pea  broth  or  soup.  It  is  said  that  the  first  crop  ever  raised 
in  Gorham,  was  one  of  peas.  Captain  John  Phinney  raised 
on  the  first  land  he  cleared,  eighty  bushels  of  jieas  on  a  small 
piece  of  land,  in  1736.     Mr.  Phinney  also  raised,  the  same 


SEPARATION    OF   MAINE,    ETC.  147 

year,  several  cart  loads  of  watermelons  ;  these  products  were 
grown  on  newly  burned  land.  Potatoes  were  but  scantily 
cultivated  for  the  first  forty  years.  The  principal  bread  was 
made  of  a  mixture  of  corn  and  rye  meal,  in  about  equal  pro- 
portions. Wheaten  bread  became  common  after  a  few  years. 
During  many  years,  the  settlers  had  but  little  animal  food  ; 
their  meat  was  nearly  all  obtained  from  the  forest,  and  con- 
sisted of  the  flesh  of  Moose,  Deer,  and  some  smaller  ani- 
mals. Moose  and  deer  were  numerous  and  easily  killed. 
They  were  found  on  the  Gorham  hills  for  thirty  or  forty 
years  after  the  first  settlement  of  the  town.  It  is  said  the 
last  moose  seen  in  town,  was  on  a  hill  east  of  Black  Brook 
road,  near  the  land  of  Mr.  Isaac  Eichardson.  Wolves 
abounded,  and  much  annoyed  the  settlers ;  these  animals 
disapjjeared,  as  is  usual,  when  the  deer  became  extinct. 
At  some  seasons  of  the  year,  salmon  and  other  fish  Avere 
abundant  in  Presumpscot,  Stroudwater,  and  Little  Pivers. 
Swine  and  poultry  soon  came  into  use.  Samp,  or  hominy, 
made  of  cracked  corn,  and  well  boiled,  was  a  common  dish, 
as  well  as  baked  beans,  and  Indian  pudding.  Tea  or  coffee 
was  little  used  till  after  the  Revolutionary  war ;  bread  and 
milk,  or  hasty  pudding  and  milk,  made  the  common  evening 
meal.  Home-made  beer  was  generally  drank.  After  some 
years,  apples  Avere  plenty,  and  cider  took  the  place  of  beer. 
Flip,  a  compound  of  beer,  rum,  and  sweetening,  heated,  and 
caused  to  foam  by  the  insertion  of  a  hot  iron,  Avas  a  fashion- 
able drink,  down  to  the  commencement  of  the  present  cen- 
tury. 

After  the  Pevolutionary  Avar  closed,  the  town  increased 
rapidly  in  population  and  material  wealth.  Customs  and 
manners,  about  the  same  time,  underwent  quite  a  change. 
The  facility  Avith  which  imported  articles  could  be  obtained 
produced  many  alterations  in  dress  and  Avay  of  living.  Lux- 
ury kept  full  pace    Avith   income.     An  improved  style  of 


148  HISTORY    OF   GORHAM. 

building  Avas  visible.  Articles  of  dress,  household  furni- 
ture, and  food,  that  would  by  our  first  settlers  been  deemed 
superfluities,  soon  became  to  be  considered  necessaries  of 
living.  Returned  soldiers,  who  had  been  in  the  army,  (and 
almost  all  the  middle-aged  men  of  our  town  were  such) 
brought  home  new  habits  and  customs.  The  Sabbath  was 
less  strictly  observed  ;  the  men  were  not  so  constant  in  their 
attendance  on  divine  Avorship  ;  there  was  a  greater  laxity  of 
morals ;  intoxication  and  profanity  were  more  ojjen  and  fre- 
quent. Enterprise  was  stimulated  and  debts  more  freely 
contracted.  Many  Gorham  people  were  interested  in  com- 
merce, and  not  a  few  of  our  citizens  became  mariners,  and 
we  had  skilful  masters  and  mates  of  vessels,  as  well  as  ordi- 
nary seamen,  and  several  were  part  owners  of  ships.  The 
embargo  nearly  destroyed  these  pursuits  and  investments,  by 
forcing  our  seamen  to  engage  in  agricultural  or  mechanical 
business,  and  latterly  Gorham  has  numbered  but  few  sailors. 
There  was  a  custom  prevailing  in  most  of  our  towns, 
seventy  years  ago,  when  new  people  came  to  settle,  or  be- 
come citizens,  to  warn  them  out  of  town,  unless  they  pur- 
chased real  estate,  or  were  reputed  to  be  persons  of  property. 
This  course  was  taken  to  prevent  such  from  becoming 
chargeable  to  the  town.  They  were  warned  to  leave  in  a 
specified  time  ;  if  such  persons  remained  after  the  notice,  the 
town  was  not  liable  for  their  support,  as  they  could  gain  no 
leo-al  residence.  So  late  as  1790,  the  following  Order  or 
Warrant  was  issued  by  the  Selectmen,  and  acted  upon,  and 
recorded  with  the  return  of  the  Constable  on  the  Town 
Records : — 

|l.  s.  I     Cumberland,  ss. 

To  the  Constable  of  the  Town  of  Gorham,  Greeting  : — 

You  are  in  the  name  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachu- 
setts, directed  to  warn  and  give  notice  unto  Moses  Poland, 


SEPARATION    OF   MAINE,   ETC.  14f> 

Levi  Dyer,  Seth  Fogg,  David  Vickcry,  Nathaniel  Edwards, 
Jr.,  Joshua  Edwards,  Ebcnezer  Carsley,  Jonathan  Bragdon, 
Moses  Jordan,  Alexander  Stimpson,  Malachi  Waterman, 
John  Melvin,  Joseph  Young,  Stephen  Johnson,  John  Chase, 
and  Richard  Hines,  who  have  lately  come  into  this  town 
for  the  purpose  of  abiding  therein,  not  having  obtained  the 
town's  consent  therefor,  that  they  depart  the  limits  thereof, 
with  their  children  and  others  under  their  care,  within  fif- 
teen days.  And  of  this  Precept,  with  your  doings  thereon, 
you  are  to  make  return  into  the  office  of  the  Clerk  of  the 
town,  within  twenty  days  next  coming,  that  such  further 
proceedings  may  be  had  in  the  Premises  as  the  Law  directs. 
Given  under  our  hands  and  seals  at  Gorham  aforesaid,  this 
twelfth  day  of  June,  A.  D.  1790. 

JAMES  PHINNEY,  )     Selectmen 

SAMUEL  ELDER,  V  of       * 

STEPHEN  LONGFELLOW,  )      Gorham. 


IKCORPOKATED   SOCIETIES.— FREE   MASONS. 

In  1821,  several  Free  Masons,  residing  in  Gorham  and 
Saccarappa,  met  at  Gorham,  organized  themselves,  and  pro- 
cured a  brother  from  Portland  to  deliver  some  Masonic  Lec- 
tures. A  petition,  signed  by  Reuben  Nason,  Daniel  Thomp- 
son, Samuel  Stephenson,  James  Codman,  Daniel  Hunt, 
James  Haskell,  Seth  Webb,  Archelaus  Lewis,  Nathaniel 
Partridge,  Benjamin  Poland,  Simon  Cutter,  Nathaniel  War- 
ren, Joshua  Berry,  Aaron  Winslow,  Timothy  Bacon,  Rufus 
Rich,  Henry  Babb,  George  Small,  Lewis  Pease,  John  Bix- 
by,  Levi  Tole,  Luther  Fitch,  and  John  Warren,  was  pre- 
sented to  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Maine,  for  a  Charter  to  erect 


150  HISTORY   OF   GORHAM. 

them  and  their  associates,  into  a  Lodge  of  Free  and  Ac- 
cepted Masons.  A  Charter  was  granted  under  the  hand  of 
Simon  Greenleaf,  Grand  Master,  January  10,  1822,  bearing 
the  name  of  Harmony  Lodge,  being  ISTo.  38  among  the 
Lodofes  in  this  State.  The  new  Loclo-e  chose  Kev.  Reuben 
Nason,  then  Principal  of  Gorham  Academy,  its  first  Mas- 
ter, Capt.  Daniel  Thompson,  Senior  Warden,  Col.  Samuel 
Stephenson,  Junior  Warden,  Seth  Webb,  Esq.,  Secretary. 
Harmony  Lodge  was  incorporated  a  body  politic  by  the 
Legislature,  Jan.  27,  1823.  And  it  was  installed  in  ample 
form  the  next  September,  by  the  R.  W.  Simeon  Greenleaf, 
Grand  Master  of  Masons  in  Maine.  The  Association  flour- 
ished till  the  anti-masonic  frenzy  swept  over  the  country  in 
1827-33.  Harmony  Lodge,  like  many  others  then,  yielded 
to  the  blast,  and  ceased  active  operations  for  a  season. 
When  the  fanaticism  died  out,  Harmony  Lodge  revived, 
and  became  more  vigorous  than  ever,  and  at  the  present 
time  it  is  in  a  state  of  great  prosperity.  A  few  years  ago, 
the  Westbrook  brethren,  having  become  numerous,  obtained 
a  Charter  for  a  new  Lodge  at  Saccarappa. 

The  following  named  persons  have  been  Masters  of  the 
Lodge  in  Gorham,  viz :  —  Reuben  Nason,  Samuel  Stephen- 
son, Josiah  Pierce,  George  L.  Darling,  before  its  suspension. 
Since  its  revival,  Josiah  Pierce,  William  Silla,  William 
Burton,  Merrill  Thomas,  Thomas  J.  Hasty,  Jonathan  I.  Ste- 
vens, and  Daniel  C.  Emery,  have  been  its  Masters. 


INSURANCE    COMPANIES. 

There  are  three  incoporated  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Com- 
panies in  Gorham. 


SEPARATION    OF   MAINE,   ETC.  151 

The  Maine  INIutual  Fire  Insurance  Company  was  incor- 
porated in  1828.  Hon.  Toppon  Robie  was  its  first  Presi- 
dent, and  Jacob  S.  Smith,  Esq.,  its  first  Secretary. 

The  Farmers'  and  Mechanics'  Mutual  Fire  Insurance 
Company  was  incorporated  in  1839.  Both  these  companies 
have  done  a  large  business,  and  paid  their  losses  promptly. 
Each  company  has  issued  many  thousands  of  Policies,  and 
paid  out  many  thousands  of  dollars,  which  have  greatly 
benefitted  the  recipients  who  have  suffered  losses  by  fire. 

At  the  present  time,  (1862)  Charles  Humphrey,  of  Yar- 
mouth, is  President  of  the  Maine  Mutual  Company,  John 
A.  Waterman,  Esq.,  Secretary,  and  Dr.  John  Waterman 
Treasurer.  Eev.  John  E.  Baxter  is  President  of  the  Far- 
mers' and  Mechanics'  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company,  and 
Josiah  Pierce,  Esq.,  its  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 

"  The  Gorham  Farmers'  Club"  was  incorporated  in  1861, 
with  power  to  insure  real  and  personal  estate  of  farmers 
against  damage  by  fire. 


There  is  an  active  and  intelligent  Fire  Company  in  our 
principal  village,  bearing  the  name  of  the  "  Relief  Engine 
Company,  No.  1."  They  have  an  excellent  engine,  which 
has  done  valuable  service  at  fires. 


TEMPEEANCE. 


The  Temperance  cause  has  received  much  attention  in 
Gorham.  Rev.  James  Lewis,  James  Smith,  Esq.,  and  a  few 
others,  organized  a  "  Total  Abstinence  Society''''  in  1822. 
The  Society  grew  rapidly,  and  a  large  number  signed  the 


152  HISTORY   OF   GORHAM. 

pledge ;  and  Temperance  societies  have  ever  since  existed 
in  town.  Many  have  been  reclaimed  from  drinking  intoxi- 
cating liquors,  and  for  many  years  very  little  alcohohc  drink 
has  been  sold. 


BIOGRArniCAL   NOTICES.  153 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES, 

Joseph  Akees  was  one  of  tlie  early  proprietors  of  Nar- 
ragansett  No.  7.  He  came  from  Sandwich,  Cape  Cod.  Af- 
ter living  here  for  many  years,  the  family  removed  to  West- 
brook,  where  their  descendants  now  reside.  John  Akers, 
son  of  Joseph,  had  a  large  family  born  in  that  town. 


ALDEN. 

Ansten  Alden,  a  lineal  descendant  of  John  Aldcn,  one  of 
the  first  emigrants  from  England  to  Plymouth,  and  the 
friend  of  Captain  Standish,  was  born  in  Marshfield,  Massa- 
chusetts, March  25,  1729.  His  wife,  Salome  Lombard,  was 
born  at  Truro,  June  10,  1734.  They  were  married  at  Gor- 
ham  in  1756,  he  having  settled  here  in  1755.  He  made  his 
farm  about  half  a  mile  from  the  meeting  house,  and  this 
place  has  ever  remained  in  the  family,  and  is  the  farm  now 
occupied  by  his  great  grandson,  Henry  Alden.  Austen 
Alden  served  in  the  French  and  English  war  at  the  time 
Canada  surrendered  to  the  British.  In  1761,  he,  with  many 
more  New  England  soldiers,  went  to  Halifax,  Nova  Scotia, 
to  erect  fortifications.  That  was  a  hard  service  ;  they  had 
hard  usage  and  labored  under  a  severe,  and  cruel,  and  exact- 
20 


154  HISTORY    OP   GORHAM. 

ing  English  officer.  Mr.  Alden  returned  to  Gorham  in  1762. 
In  1777,  lie  was  first  Lieutenant  in  Capt.  Nathan  Watkins' 
company,  and  was  an  able  and  faithful  officer.  Mr.  Alden 
was  one  of  the  early  Deacons  of  the  Congregational  Church 
in  this  town.  He  was  chosen  Town  Clerk  of  Gorham  in 
1778,  and  re-elected  every  year  till  his  death  in  1804.  He 
ever  sustained  an  unblemished  character. 

Josiah  Alden,  son  of  Deacon  Austen  Alden,  was  elected 
Town  Clerk  of  Gorham  on  the  decease  of  his  father,  and 
was  annually  re-chosen  till  1815.  He  Avas  also  Town  Treas- 
urer from  1806  to  1815,  inclusive.  Josiah  Alden  died  Nov. 
8,  1834,  leaving  several  descendants.  His  son,  Gardiner 
Alden,  who  lived  with  him,  died  Sept.  8,  1831. 


BACON. 


The  Bacon  family  came  from  Barnstable  to  Gorham. 
Lieut.  Timothy  Bacon  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary 
army  ;  he  enlisted  when  only  sixteen  years  of  age.  He  be- 
longed to  the  2d  Massachusetts  Regiment,  commanded  by 
Lieut.  Col.  Ebenezer  Sprout,  in  Gen.  Patterson's  Brigade. 
Mr.  Bacon  served  through  the  whole  of  the  war ;  he  was 
with  General  Greene  in  the  Carolinas,  and  at  the  surrender 
of  Cornwallis.  Mr.  Bacon  also  served  in  the  war  of  1812 ; 
he  then  held  a  Lieutenant's  commission.  He  was  a  man  of 
strict  integrity,  and  possessed  a  high  sense  of  honor.  His 
wife  was  Mary  Irish,  who  was  a  grand  daughter  of  Capt. 
John  Phinncy.  Lieutenant  Bacon  was  a  revolutionary  pen- 
sioner ;  he  died  at  Gorham  in  1849,  aged  87  years.  His 
wife,  Mary  Bacon,  died  in  1846,  aged  79  years. 


BIOGRAPHICAL   NOTICES.  155 


BANGS. 


Some  of  the  Bangs  settled  here  soon  after  tlie  occupation 
of  the  town.  They  came  originally  from  Cape  Cod,  but 
may  have  resided  in  Portland  before  settling  in  Gorliam,  as 
they  claim  descent  from  the  Bangs  of  Harwich.  Barnabas 
Bangs  was  a  man  of  influence  here  before  the  incorporation 
of  the  town,  as  were  his  sons  Barnabas  and  Thomas,  who 
joined  the  Shakers,  and  removed  to  Poland  in  this  State 
where  Barnabas  became  an  Elder  of  that  society.  Charles 
C.  Bangs,  now  living  here,  and  who  has  been  Town  Clerk, 
is  a  son  of  Nathan  Bano:s.  Nathan  Bang-s,  now  connected 
with  the  Y.  &  C.  Railroad,  is  a  son  of  Joseph  Bangs. 


BLAKE. 


The  Blakes  came  from  Barnstable.  Nathaniel  Blake  and 
Joseph  Blake  were  both  Eevolutionary  soldiers  and  pension- 
ers. There  arc  many  of  the  name  yet  in  town.  Joseph 
died  at  83,  and  Nathaniel  at  90  years  of  age. 


BAKER 


Daniel  Baker,  Esq.,  came  from  Somersworth,  N.  H.,  and 
he  lived  to  be  90  years  old.  He  was  at  one  period  Town 
Treasurer ;  his  son,  Jacob  C.  Baker,  was  tAvo  years  Repre- 
sentative of  Gorham  in  the  Lesjislature  of  Maine. 


156  HISTORY    OF   GORHAM. 


BRACKETT.  — BRAMH  ALL, 

Joshua  Brackett  and  Cornelius  Bramliall,  from  Portland, 
Avere  early  settlers  in  this  toAvn.  The  families  were  connect- 
ed. Kerenhappuck  Brackett,  widoAV  of  Anthony  Brackett, 
died  in  Gorham  in  1822,  aged  93. 


BROWN. 


Samuel  Brown,  the  first  person  in  Gorham  who  united 
with  the  Shakers,  came  from  Eastham,  Cape  Cod.  The 
name  has  ever  been  numerous  in  town. 


BRYANT. 


William  Bryant  came  from  Barnstable.  As  has  been  be- 
fore stated,  he  and  his  children  were  slain  by  the  Indians, 
April  19,  1746.  His  widow,  who  was  carried  captive  to 
Canada,  was  there  mai'ried  and  never  returned- 


BURNELL. 

The  Burnell  family  were  early  inhabitants.  I  have  not 
learned  from  what  place  they  came  —  they  were  once  nu- 
merous here,  but  the  name  is  nearly  extinct.  John  Burnell, 
who  lived  here  prior  to  1760,  had  nine  children,  most  of 
whom  removed  to  Flintstown,  (now  Baldwin)  where  are 
many  of  their  descendants. 


BIOGRAPHICAL   NOTICES.  157 


BURTON. 


William  Burton  was  born  in  Little  York,  Virginia,  in 
1759.  While  a  young  boy,  a  Capt.  Doane,  master  of  a 
coasting  vessel,  persuaded  young  Burton  to  come  to  Maine, 
promising  his  widowed  mother  that  he  would  return  him  to 
her  the  next  year ;  Doane  did  not  keep  his  promise,  but 
placed  him  at  service.  When  the  war  with  Great  Britain 
commenced,  Mr.  Burton  enlisted,  being  seventeen  years  old  ; 
he  served  in  many  campaigns  ;  he  was  in  the  battle  at  White 
Plains.  After  the  termination  of  the  war,  he  went  back  to 
Virginia,  but  finding  no  relative  except  his  mother,  who  had 
married  a  second  husband,  he  did  not  stay  long,  but  re- 
turned to  Gorliam  and  lived  with  Capt.  Ross,  on  the  Tyng 
place.  He  married  a  daughter  of  James  Ross,  a  brother  of 
Capt.  Alexander  Ross.  The  Ross  brothers  were  Scotsmen. 
James  Ross  married  a  Dyer  of  Cape  Elizabeth.  Mr.  Bur- 
ton was  one  of  the  society  of  Friends  or  Quakers.  Mrs. 
Mary  Burton  died  in  1831,  aged  72  years.  He  died  Sept. 
24,  1841,  aged  82  years  ;  he  left  one  son,  our  townsman 
William  Burton,  late  one  of  our  Selectmen. 


GATES. 


Joseph  Gates  was  a  citizen  before  1764  ;  where  he  emi- 
grated from  I  have  not  been  able  to  ascertain.  Mr.  Cates 
was  esteemed  a  man  of  ability,  and  one  of  the  strong  pillars 
of  the  Congregational  church  ;  he  was  one  of  the  Select- 
men in  1768,  and  on  various  Important  Committees  during 
the  war  of  Independence.  Mr.  Cates  was  a  Deacon  and 
Ruling  Elder  of  the  church  for  many  years.     He  died  in 


158  HISTOKY    OF    GORHAM. 

1813,  at  the  age  of  90  years.     His  descendants  still  live  in 
town. 


CHASE, 


Caleb  Chase  came  from  Newbury,  Mass.  ;  he  was  the  first 
licensed  Innholder  in  town  ;  he  was  Town  Treasurer  in  1772, 
and  for  several  years  held  that  office,  and  that  of  Town 
Clerk.  Mr.  Chase  was  one  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  In- 
spection and  Correspondence  ;  he  left  Gorham  with  his 
family  in  1778  or  '79.     His  wife  was  Anna  Whitney. 


COTTON. 

John  and  William  Cotton  came  to  this  place  from  Fal- 
mouth ;  they  were  sons  of  Deacon  William  Cotton,  and  were 
the  first  tanners  in  Gorham.  Their  tan  yard  was  near  where 
Ezra  Thomes  lives.  William  Cotton  and  his  wife  Elizabeth, 
had  nine  children,  and  their  descendants  now  reside  here. 


COBB, 


Several  distinct  families  of  the  name  of  Cobb  settled  in 
Gorham  ;  most  of  them  came  from  Barnstable,  Mass.  Jede- 
diah  Cobb  died  here,  Aug.  2,  1833,  aged  91  years,  and  Na- 
thaniel Cobb  died  Sept.  24,  1839,  aged  90  years.  William 
Cobb  was  Selectman  in  1820-21.  But  few  of  the  name 
now  live  in  town. 


IJIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES.  159 


CHADBOURNE, 


Lieut.  Silas  Cliadbournc  came  from  Berwick,  a  young 
man  to  pursue  the  occupation  of  a  tailor ;  he  enlisted  in 
Capt.  Hart  Williams'  company  as  a  Corporal,  and  was  in 
Col.  Phinney's  Eegiment ;  he  was  promoted  to  a  Lieuten- 
antcy  and  attached  to  Col.  Patterson's  Regiment,  and  served 
through  the  war,  and  was  a  United  States'  pensioner  during 
t^e  latter  years  of  his  life.  He  married  Abigail  Crockett, 
of  Gorham,  and  they  had  ten  children,  three  sons  and  seven 
daughters.  The  late  Deacon  Nahum  Chadbourne  was  one 
of  his  sons ;  his  daughter  Rebecca  married  Gen.  James 
Irish.     Lieut.  Chadbourne  died  at  Gorham,  about  1825. 


CRESSET. 

The  name  is  variously  spelled,  Creasey,  Cresey  and  Cres- 
sey.  John  Cressey  came  from  Connecticut ;  he  married  hi& 
wife,  Deborah  Wadleigh,  in  Boston  ;  they  had  five  childreuy 
John,  Joseph,  Elizabeth,  Mary  and  Noah.  Joseph,  the 
second  son,  was  born  in  Gorham  in  1753.  He  Avas  a  pri- 
vate in  Capt.  Williams'  company,  and  marched  to  Cam- 
bridge in  1775,  with  Col.  Phinney's  Regiment,  and  subse- 
quently to  Ticonderoga.  He  married  Hannah  Ashley,  of 
Connecticut,  and  their  eldest  son,  Ebenezer,  was  born  at 
Pomfret,  in  that  State,  in  1779  ;  they  had  seven  children, 
five  sons  and  two  daughters.  Joseph  Cressey  died  in  Gor- 
ham, in  1832,  79  years  old  ;  his  brother,  John  Cressey,  died 
in  Buxton,  January  20,  1842,  aged  93  years. 


IGO  HISTORY   OF   GORHAM. 


CROCKETT. 


Several  families  of  this  name,  came  from  Barnstable, 
Mass.  Samuel  married  first,  Tabitha  Hamblen ;  secondly, 
Elizabeth  Fickett.  By  his  first  wife  he  had  seven  children, 
and  by  his  last  wife  three.  His  eldest  daughter,  Eunice, 
was  born  in  1771,  his  last  in  1790.  Peletiah  Crockett  came 
from  Stratham,  N.  H.,  to  this  town  about  1763.  Jonathan 
Crockett  married  Anna  Dearborn  ;  they  had  six  children 
born  between  1774  and  1778.  Joshua  Crockett  was  also 
an  early  settler  in  this  town. 


CROSS. 


Deacon  Thomas  Cross  came  from  Bradford,  Mass.  He 
was  a  worthy  man.  He  lived  on  Fort  Hill,  where  Moses 
Fogg  now  resides.  He  had  a  large  family.  His  sons,  Jo- 
seph, William,  Thomas,  Amos,  and  Leonard,  all  settled  in 
Portland.  Leonard  still  survives.  One  of  the  daughters 
married  Capt.  Enoch  Preble  of  Portland ;  another,  Captain 
Jonathan  Stevens.  Lucy  married  James  Phinney,  Sr.,  of 
Gorliam ;  Lois  married  Allison  Libby  of  Gorham. 

Deacon  Cross  died  in  this  town  in  1819,  and  his  widow, 
Lucy  Cross,  in  1821. 


C  A  R  S  L  E  Y 


John  Carsley  settled  in  Gorliam  about  1700.     He  married 
Anna  Harding,  and  had  eleven  children. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES.  161 


CLARK. 


There  were  formerly  several  families  of  Clarks  in  this 
town.  Benjamin  Clark  lived  here  in  1778,  Moses  Clark,  a 
tanner,  Morris  Clark,  from  Stratham,  New  Hampshire, — he 
had  sons,  John,  Jacob,  Joseph,  and  James,  and  a  daughter 
Mary.  Jacob  learned  a  carpenter's  trade  and  was  one  of 
the  earliest  settlers  of  Baldwin,  in  which  town  he  died. 


C  L  O  U  T  M  A  N  . 

This  name  is  now  usually,  spelled  Cloudman.  Edward 
Cloutman,  the  first  of  the  name  in  this  town,  was  born  in 
Dover,  N.  H.,  Feb.  15,  (old  style)  1714.  He  was  the  sec- 
ond son  of  Edward  and  Sarah  Cloutman,  whose  ancestors 
came  from  Scotland.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Society  of 
Friends.  When  the  second  Edward  became  of  age,  he 
came  to  Falmouth,  (Portland)  where  he  married  Anna  Col- 
lins, daughter  of  Timothy  and  Sarah  Collins  of  Philadelphia. 
Mr.  Cloutman  was  married  in  1738,  and  went  to  live  at 
Presumscot  Lower  Falls,  and  tended  the  first  saw-mill  erect- 
ed there,  when  the  Indians  burned  the  mill,  in  1741.  At 
this  place  his  son  Timothy  was  born,  the  ancestor  of  all  of 
the  name  in  Gorham.  Edward  took  his  wife  and  child, 
with  their  small  stock  of  furniture,  placed  them  in  a  boat, 
and  paddled  round  Portland  to  Stroudwatcr.  In  1745,  he 
came  with  his  family  to  this  town,  and  purchased  the  land 
where  Col.  Frost  lived  a  few  years  ago,  now  owned  by 
James  Cressey.  The  next  April  he  was  taken  by  the  In- 
dians, as  I  have  related  in  a  former  part  of  this  work. 
Cloutman's  widow  became  Mrs.  Anderson,  and  died  in 
21 


162  HISTORY    OF    GORHAM. 

Windham,  Dec.  1,  1802,  aged  84.     She  was  seven  years  a 
resident  in  the  Gorham  Garrison. 

Edward  Cloutman's  son  Timothy  married  Katy,  and  they 
had  eleven  children,  viz  : — Betty,  born  May  3,  1767  ;  Nan- 
cy, born  May  7,  1769 ;  Edward,  July  5,  1771 ;  Nathaniel 
and  Jesse,  twins,  born  July  29,  1773  ;  John,  Feb.  20, 1776  ; 
Mary,  July  13,  1779 ;  William,  Sept.  16,  1780 ;  Thomas, 
Aug.  20,  1783  ;  Solomon,  Dec.  4,  1785,  and  David,  Sept. 
16,  1788.  Timothy  Cloutman  died  Oct.  22,  1829,  aged  91. 
His  widow,  Katy  Cloutman,  died  March  24,  1832,  also  91 
years  old.  Their  descendants  are  numerous.  Their  son 
Jesse  had  twelve  children.     Jesse  died  in  1848,  aged  75. 


CLEMENTS. 

Jacob  Clements  came  from  New  Hampshire  ;  his  first 
Avife  was  Phebe  Coffin.  They  had  nine  children,  Eleanor, 
Ebenezer,  John,  Jacob  H.,  Elizabeth,  Simeon  C,  Daniel 
B.,  Samuel  E,.,  and  Mary  C.  All  his  sons  but  Samuel  R., 
have  deceased.  Mr.  Clements  was  thrice  married  ;  he  died 
in  1849,  aged  81  years. 


CODM  AN. 

Capt.  James  Codman  came  from  Portland.  His  first  wife 
was  a  Waite  of  Portland ;  they  had  two  sons,  Frederick 
and  Randolph  A.  L.  Codman.  In  his  younger  life,  Capt. 
Codman  was  a  ship  master ;  his  son  Frederick  was  also  a 
sea  captain.  Randolph  was  a  lawyer,  and  died  in  Portland. 
Capt.  Codman's  second  wife  was  Nabby  Loring.     For  sev- 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES.  103 

eral  years  Capt.  Codman  was  a  Representative  from  this 
town  in  the  Massachusetts  Legislature  ;  he  died  in  1840, 
aged  77.     His  son,  Capt.  Frederick,  died  in  Baltimore. 


DAVIS. 

The  Davis  families  came  from  Barnstable.  Joshua  Davis 
lived  here,  and  had  eight  children  before  the  Revolution. 
Prince  Davis  was  an  early  settler,  and  had  four  sons  and 
one  daughter*;  the  eldest  son,  Isaac,  was  born  in  1762. 
Sylvanus  Davis  came  from  Falmouth,  Massachusetts.  Al- 
len Davis  and  Jonathan  Davis  lived  here  before  1800,  and 
had  families. 


D  ARLI?^^G. 

John  Darling  came  from  Barnstable.  He  was  a  soldier 
of  the  Revolution,  and  his  widow  obtained  a  pension  ;  she 
was  Annah  Lewis,  dauo-hter  of  Deacon  Georo-e  Lewis. 
Our  townsman,  George  L.  Darling,  was  their  son. 


E  A  Y  E  R 


John  Eayer  was  one  of  the  first  ten  who  settled  in  this 
town  ;  he  left  the  place  on  the  breaking  out  of  the  Indian 
war,  in  1745,  and  never  returned  ;  he  probably  soon  died. 
Just  after  the  peace  took  place,  his  widow  returned  and 
claimed  the  lot  of  land  that  her  husband  Avas  entitled  to  as 


164  HISTORY    OF   GORHAM. 

a  settler.     The  claim  was  allowed,  and  that  is  the  last  notice 
I  find  of  the  family. 


E  D  W  A  E  D  S . 

Richard  Edwards  lived  here  before  1762.  In  a  Province 
tax,  made  in  1763,  Mr.  Edwards  was  assessed  seven  shil- 
lings and  eleven  pence.  His  wife  was  Hannah  Lothrop. 
They  had  nine  children.  Our  late  townsmaft,  Samuel  Ed- 
wards, was  their  third  child,  and  was  born  in  1770.  Sev- 
eral of  his  children  are  now  residing  in  Gorham. 


ELDER. 

Samuel  Elder,  the  ancestor  of  the  Gorham  and  Windham 
Elders,  emigrated  from  Ireland,  and  settled  in  Falmouth  in 
1730.  His  second  son,  Samuel,  having  learned  the  trade  of 
a  house  joiner,  came  to  Gorham  in  1773,  and  purchased  of 
Wm.  Frost  and  others,  heirs  of  Charles  Frost,  the  lot  on 
which  his  son,  Simon  Elder,  Esq.,  now  lives,  and  pursued 
his  trade  here.  Mr.  Elder  was  the  contractor  to  build  Gor- 
ham Academy,  and  was  one  of  its  first  Trustees.  He  died 
in  1819.  Mr.  Samuel  Elder  was  twice  married  ;  his  first 
wife  was  Hannah  Freeman,  who  had  five  children,  Eunice, 
Euth,  Hannah,  Betty,  and  Samuel.  Samuel  was  born  in 
1781,  and  died  in  1861.  Mr.  Elder's  second  wife  was  Mary 
Grafi"am,  by  whom  he  had  four  children,  Peter,  Ruth,  Si- 
mon and  Lois.     Mrs.  Marv  Elder  died  in  1829. 


BIOGRAPHICAL   NOTICES.  165 


ELWELL. 

There  was  a  family  of  Elwells  in  this  town  prior  to  the 
Revolution.  I  know  not  where  they  came  from.  Henry 
and  George  Elwell  are  their  descendants. 


EMERY. 


There  were  two  families  of  the  name  of  Emery  here  as 
early  as  1778,  John  and  Benjamin.  James  Emery  had  a 
family  in  town  in  1786. 


FARNHAM. 

Simeon  Farnham  came  here  from  Andover,  Mass.  His 
wife  was  a  Johnson  of  the  same  town.  They  had  nine  chil- 
dren. Mr.  Farnham  built  the  large  three  story  brick  house 
in  the  village,  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Mr.  Jonathan 
Dow,  as  a  hotel.  Capt.  John  Farnham,  late  Postmaster, 
and  now  living  here,  was  a  son  of  Simeon. 


FILES, 


This  name  is  said  to  have  been  formerly  spelled  Foyles. 
William  Files,  the  ancestor  of  all  of  the  name  in  Gorham, 
emigrated  hither  from  York,  Maine,  about  1756.  In  1757, 
he,  with  Zephaniah  Harding,  also  from  Gorham,  were  in  Col. 
Munroe's  Regiment  of  Rangers,  and   were  in  the  terrible 


166  HISTORY    OF    GORHAM. 

battle  at  the  head  of  Lake  George,  defending  Fort  William 
Henry  against  the  French  and  Indians,  under  the  Marquis 
de  Montcalm.  The  fortress,  though  gallantly  defended,  was 
obliged  to  capitulate  on  honorable  terms.  The  capitulation 
was  shamefully  broken.  The  Indians  attacked  our  troops 
as  they  were  marching  out  of  the  Fort,  after  they  had  laid 
down  their  arms  ;  a  scene  of  merciless  barbarity  ensued ; 
men,  women  and  children  were  murdered  with  every  species 
of  cruelty.  The  massacre  continued  into  the  forests  and 
in  the  defiles  of  the  mountains,  and  for  many  miles  the  fugi- 
tives were  tomahawked  and  scalped.  A  miserable  remnant 
reached  Fort  Edward  on  the  Hudson.  Among  those  who 
escaped  were  Mr.  Files  and  Mr.  Harding.  During  their 
flight,  it  is  said,  Mr.  Files  was  captured  by  two  Indians,  and 
by  his  superior  strength,  he  overcame  them  and  escaped. 
He  and  Mr.  Harding  were  still  followed  by  the  savages,  and 
Files  and  Harding  crept  into  a  hollow  log.  The  Indians 
suspected  they  were  there  and  kindled  a  fire  at  the  hollow 
end  of  the  tree,  but  the  cavity  being  very  tight,  the  smoke 
would  not  enter ;  the  Indians  were  foiled  and  went  away. 
Files  and  Harding,  it  is  said,  made  their  way  to  Maine 
through  the  woods,  suffering  much  from  hunger  and  expo- 
sure. Mr.  Files  was  married  in  York,  and  had  two  children 
born  there,  and  seven  more  in  Gorham.  He  died  in  Gor- 
ham  in  1823,  aged  95  years,  leaving  numerous  descendants. 
In  the  Province  tax  of  Gorham,  in  1763,  Mr.  Files  was  taxed 
7s.  lid. 

WiUiam  E.  Files,  Esq.,  who  represented  the  town  of  Gor- 
ham in  1834  and  '35,  and  was  one  of  the  Selectmen  subse- 
quently, was  the  son  of  Ebenezer  Files,  who  was  the  eldest 
son  of  William,  the  old  Eanger.  W.  E.  Files  died  in  1843, 
aged  62,  leaving  a  large  family. 


BIOGRAPHICAL   NOTICES.  167 


FLOOD. 

There  was  a  family  of  this  name  in  town  prior  to  1800. 
Morris  Flood  had  a  large  family ;  I  have  not  ascertained 
their  origin. 


FOGG. 


Jeremiah  Fogg  lived  here  soon  after  the  Revolution.  His 
son,  George  Fogg,  was  born  here  in  1784.  Daniel  Fogg 
came  from  Scarborough ;  he  was  a  house  joiner.  Our 
townsman,  Moses  Fogg,  was  his  son. 


FOSTEE, 


William  H.  Foster,  who  was  Town  Clerk  from  1815  to 
1832,  came  from  Boston.  He  was  a  skilful  cabinet  maker, 
and  a  respected  citizen. 


FROST 


There  were  several  families  of  Frosts  here  previous  to 
1760.  In  the  Province  tax  bill  for  1773,  there  were  three 
different  Frost  estates  taxed.  Some  of  them  came  from 
Kittery.  Charles  Frost,  who  lived  at  Stroudwater,  was  a 
large  landholder  here  at  the  time  of  his  death,  and  his  heirs 
sold  several  lots  near  the  villao-e.  Col.  Nathaniel  Frost  was 
an  active,  pious  man  ;  he  was  very  conspicuous  in  the  Rev- 


168  HISTORY    OF    GORHAM. 

olutionary  times  ;  he  held  many  municipal  and  military 
offices.  Col.  Frost  lived  about  half  a  mile  north  of  the 
Academy,  on  the  Fort  Hill  road,  where  his  son  Jeremiah 
Frost  afterwards  lived,  and  which  is  now  owned  by  Mr. 
James  Cressey.  Col.  Frost  died  in  May,  1838,  aged  90 
years. 


FKEEMAN. 

Our  earliest  Proprietors'  and  Town  Records  show  that 
three  Freeman  families  were  in  this  town  soon  after  the  In- 
dian wars.  John  Freeman,  of  Eastham,  was  one  of  the 
Narragansett  soldiers,  and  a  grantee  of  this  town.  Nathan 
Freeman  and  Jonathan  Freeman  came  from  that  town. 
Nathan  had  a  family  here  as  early  as  1760.  Some  of  the 
name  in  this  town  came  from  Barnstable,  and  others,  it  is 
believed,  moved  from  Falmouth  to  this  place  They  have 
been  reputable  and  prosperous  citizens. 


GAMMON, 


Philip  Gammon  and  Joseph  Gammon  were  among  our 
early  inhabitants.  Daniel,  Jonathan  and  Benjamin  lived 
here  before  the  Eevolution. 


GILKET. 


The  first  person  of  this  name  in  this  town  came  from  Ire- 
land.    Joseph  Gilkey,  the  son  of  James,  was  born  here  in 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES.  169 

April,  1751.  James  had  live  other  children,  viz  :  Rebecca, 
James,  Samuel,  John  and  Isaac.  Joseph  had  nine  children  ; 
their  posterity  are  living  here. 


GORH  AM. 

Capt.  John  Gorham  Avas  a  Captain  in  the  Narragansett 
fight,  and  from  him  the  town  received  its  name.  At  the 
time  the  Grant  was  made,  1732,  Col.  Gorham  was  not  liv- 
ing ;  he  was  a  son  of  Kalph  Gorham  and  lived  near  Barn- 
stable line.  Capt.  John's  sons  were  John,  (afterwards  Lieut. 
Colonel,)  James,  Jabez,  and  Shubael,  all  of  whom  settled  in 
Barnstable.  Shubael  Gorham  Avas  also  a  Colonel ;  he  was 
chairman  of  the  committee  of  the  Narragansett  Proprietors, 
and  did  much  to  organize  the  Grantees  and  promote  the 
settlement  of  the  town  ;  he  purchased  several  rights  of  other 
proprietors,  and  many  farms  in  this  town  are  held  by  titles 
from  him.  Lieut.  Col.  John  Gorham  came  here  and  erected 
the  first  mills. 

Hon.  William  Gorham  came  to  settle  here  about  1760. 
He  was  soon  emj)loyed  In  municipal  affairs.  He  was  a  prom- 
inent man  in  the  troublesome  days  of  the  Revolution ;  hav- 
ing been  on  the  Committees  of  Safety,  Correspondence,  and 
Vigilance,  mos^  of  their  patriotic  and  spirited  papers  pro- 
ceeded from  his  pen.  He  was  Town  Clerk  in  1773,  and  for 
several  succeeding  years  ;  several  times  a  Selectman  ;  was 
twice  a  delegate  to  conventions  to  consider  the  matter  of 
the  separation  of  Maine  from  Massachusetts,  he  being 
strongly  in  favor  of  the  measure.  He  was  President  of  the 
Conventions.  He  was  appointed  Judge  of  Probate  in  1782, 
and  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  in  1787,  and  held 
both  offices  till  the  time  of  his  death,  in  July,  1804.  Judge 
22 


170  HISTORY   OF   GORHAM. 

Gorham  had  one  son,  Francis  Gorliam,  born  in  1775,  who 
died  young.  His  only  daughter,  Fanny  Tyler  Gorham, 
died  in  1798.  Judge  Gorham  was  highly  respected  and 
beloved,  a  man  of  strict  integrity,  public-spirited,  and  benev- 
olent.    His  -widow  married  Doct.  Jeremiah  Barker.  , 


GOULD. 

Nathaniel  Gould  came  from  Ipswich,  Mass.,  and  was  a 
saddler  and  harness  maker.  His  first  wife  was  Elizabeth 
Coffin,  daughter  of  Rev.  Paul  Coffin,  of  Buxton  ;  she  died 
in  1794.  Mr.  Gould's  second  wife  was  Elizabeth  McLel- 
lan,  who  died  in  1836.  Mr.  Gould  died  in  Gorham,  1853, 
aged  86. 


GREEN. 

John  Green  was  the  first  School  Teacher  in  Gorham. 
Mr.  Green  was  an  Englishman  by  birth  ;  he  had  four  sons 
born  in  Gorham  before  the  year  1769.  Mr.  Green  was  a 
soldigr  in  the  Kevolutionary  army,  and  was  wounded  by  a 
musket  ball  passing  through  his  cheek,  in  consequence  of 
which,  he  was  honorably  discharged  about  two  years  before 
the  termination  of  hostilities  ;  he  then  settled  in  Scarbor- 
ough, and  died  there. 


BIOGKArmCAL    NOTICES.  171 


HALL. 

The  Halls  were  early  settlers.  Ebcnezer  Hall  was  one 
of  those  who  left  the  town  in  174G,  on  account  of  the  In- 
dian war  ;  when  peace  came  he  returned.  He  had  eight 
children  —  1st,  Abraham,  born  in  1765  ;  2d,  Bethshuah  ; 
8d,  Isaac  ;  4th,  Dorothy  ;  5tli,  Isaac  ;  6th,  Ebcnezer  ;  7tli, 
Bethshuah  ;  8th,  Daniel. 

There  were  several  other  families  of  Halls,  and  their  pos- 
terity are  now  in  town. 


HAMBLEN. 

Bartholomew  Hamblen  and  Eleazer  Hamblen,  of  Barn- 
stable, were  both  in  Capt.  Gorham's  company  in  the  Narra- 
gansett  battle,  and  were  'among  the  grantees  of  No.  7,  in 
1732.  Jacob  Hamblen  was  among  the  first  of  the  settlers. 
He  and  his  family  were  in  the  garrison  in  1746,  and  re- 
mained there  during  the  Indian  war.  His  son,  Joseph, 
married  Hannah  Whitney  ;  they  had  —  1st,  Jacob,  born  in 
1756  ;  2d,  Esther,  1758  ;  3d,  Sarah,  1759  ;  and  4th,  Jo- 
seph, in  1763.  Joseph  Hamblen,  senior,  died  in  1763.  His 
brother,  Daniel  Hamblen,  had  four  daughters,  but  no  sons. 
Jacob,  son  of  Joseph,  senior,  married  Elizabeth  Watson ; 
their  children  were  Content,  Eliphalet,  Mercy,  Joseph,  Mar- 
tha, James,  and  Jacob.  Ebcnezer  Hamblen  came  from 
Barnstable,  and  had  thirteen  children  bom  in  Gorham.  Jo- 
seph, the  son  of  Joseph,  had  a  large  family.  Our  towns- 
man, Nathaniel  Hamblen,  was  one  of  his  sons.  Joseph,  son 
of  Jacob,  cousin  of  Nathaniel,  was  Representative  of  Gor- 


172  HISTORY    OF    GORHAM. 

ham  in  18-31.     He  omitted  the  b  in  his  father's  name,  and 
his  family  wrote  their  name  Hamlen. 


H  A  N  S  C  O  M . 

Two  families  of  the  name  of  Hanscom  came  from  Scar- 
borouo;h.  George  was  the  aiicestor  of  those  now  livino-  in 
town.  The  children  of  George  and  Abigail,  were  Moses, 
born  in  Scarborough  in  1759  ;  Hannah,  in  1761 ;  John,  born 
in  Gorham,  May  19,  1763  ;  Katherine,  1765  ;  Joseph,  1774. 
The  George,  whose  wife  was  Eunice  Whitney,  had  twelve 
children,  all  born  in  this  town. 


HARDIJq^G. 

The  Hardings  came  from  Barnstable,  Cape  Cod,  and  there 
seems  to  have  been  several  families  who  settled,  having 
none,  or  very  distant  relationship.  Zephaniah,  Joshua,  Si- 
mon, David  and  his  sons,  Elkanah  and  David,  Jr.,  Samuel 
Harding,  Barnabas,  Jesse  and  Seth  Harding.  Seth  Hard- 
ing, whose  wife  was  Elizabeth  Wilket,  was  in  this  town 
about  1750.  Their  children  were  Samuel,  Abigail,  Martha, 
Elizabeth,  and  Seth.  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  joined  the 
Shakers.  Samuel  was  a  master  mariner,  and  died  at  sea, 
1789.  Joshua  joined  the  Shakers.  Zephaniah  senior,  mar- 
ried first,  Mary  Davis  ;  their  children  were  Priscilla,  Thank- 
ful, Nicholas,  Barnabas  and  John.  By  his  second  wife, 
Lucy,  he  had  Lucy,  Content,  Elizabeth,  Zephaniah,  Samuel 
and  Joseph.  Zephaniah  was  one  of  the  soldiers  at  Fort 
AVilliam  Henry,  when  it  capitulated  to  the  French  in  1757. 


BIOGRAPHICAL   NOTICES.  173 

It  is  said  he  was  in  the  same  company  with  Wilham  Files, 
and  witnessed  the  horrid  massacre  that  then  took  place. 
Harding  and  Files  escaped,  as  I  have  related  before  —  the 
Indians  howling  around  the  hollow  tree  in  which  they  were 
concealed.  They  suffered  much  in  getting  home  ;  having  no 
guns  to  kill  game,  they  lived  on  berries  and  roots ;  they 
were  greatly  emaciated  ;  and  were  nearly  a  month  in  getting 
from  Lake  George  to  Gorham.  Both  Files  and  Harding, 
notwithstanding  the  hardships  of  their  early  life,  lived  to  a 
great  age,  and  died  at  their  homes  in  Gorham.  To  the  end 
of  their  lives  they  had  a  perfect  hatred  of  the  whole  Indian 
race. 

Mr.  David  Harding,  after  he  came  to  Gorham,  lived  with 
his  son  Elkanah,  near  Gambo  ;  he  died  in  1828,  aged  97 
years.  His  son,  David,  in  his  younger  years,  followed  the 
sea,  and  was,  for  many  years,  master  of  a  vessel,  and  later 
in  life,  a  merchant.  Capt.  Harding  was  one  of  the  most 
prominent  and  useful  of  our  citizens ;  he  was  one  of  the 
original  Trustees  of  Gorham  Academy,  and  continued  a 
member  of  the  Board  during  his  life.  He  was  also  Treas- 
urer of  the  Board.  He  was  a  Representative  of  this  town 
eleven  years  in  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts,  and  in 
the  Maine  Legislature  in  1820-21.  Capt.  Harding  died 
suddenly  in  1831,  of  apoplexy,  aged  69  years.  He  was  twice 
married ;  his  children  (all  by  his  first  wife)  were  Thomas, 
Betsey,  Temperance,  Robert,  Stephen,  David,  Charles,  and 
Emehne.  Thomas  was  the  father  of  our  townsman,  Wil- 
liam M.  Harding,  Esq. ;  Betsey  married  TVm.  H.  Foster, 
and  had  four  daughters.  Temperance  married  a  Mr.  Fenno. 
Robert  was  a  shipmaster  and  was  lost  at  sea.  David  was  a 
trader.  Charles  graduated  at  Bowdoin  College,  and  was 
a  lawyer,  and  died  in  Portland.  Emeline,  the  youngest, 
married  Ebenezer  Libby,  and  is  the  only  surviving  child  of 
Capt.  David  Harding. 


174  HISTORY    OF   GORIIAM. 


HARVEY. 


Clement  Harvey  was  one  of  the  men  who  was  in  the  fort 
In  the  Indian  war.  Little  is  now  known  of  his  subsequent 
life.     Ills  descendants  write  their  name  Meservey. 


HATCH, 


There  were  two  families  of  Hatches  settled  in  this  town. 
Asa,  who  married  Rebecca  Crocket ;  they  had  two  children, 
Nathaniel,  born  in  1783,  and  Stephen,  in  1786.  Nathaniel 
Hatch,  and  his  wife  Elizabeth,  had  four  children,  Betsey, 
Hannah,  Sally,  and  Nathaniel. 

Joseph  Hatch  settled  here  about  1750,  and  had  six  chil- 
dren—Ezeklel,  born  In  1754;  Asa,  1757;  David,  1759; 
Mary,  1764  ;  Ebenezer,  1767  ;  Elizabeth,  1770. 


HARRIS. 


Stephen  Harris,  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  had 
seven  children — Mary,  born  In  1786  ;  William,  1788  ;  Levi, 
1790 ;  John,  1792 ;  Eebecca,  1795  ;  Owen,  1797,  and  Na- 
than in  1800. 


HICKS. 


Lemuel  Hicks  was  In  town  before  1773.     He  married 
Mary  Eich  ;  they  had  two  children,  Elizabeth  and  Lemuel ; 


BIOGRArniCAL   NOTICES.  175 

by  his  second  wife,  Susannah  Frost,  he  had  five  ;  several  of 
his  posterity  now  reside  here. 


nODSDON. 

Jeremiah  Hodsdon  lived  here  as  soon  as  1760.     He  had 
a  large  family,  but  left  town  many  years  ago. 


HIGGINS. 

Joseph  Higgins  came  from  Eastham,  Cape  Cod.  He  had 
one  child,  Joseph,  born  there  in  1776,  and  in  Gorham  he 
had  Mary,  born  in  1778 ;  Isaac,  1780  ;  Barnabas,  1783 ; 
Dorcas,  1785  ;  Mary,  1787  ;  Enoch  F.,  1789  ;  Abigail  F., 
1791,  and  Saul  C.  Higgins  in  1794. 


HUNT. 


Ephraim  Hunt  and  Ichabod  Hunt  came  from  .Cape  Cod, 
Ephraim  married  Abigail  Cates.  They  had  twelve  chil- 
dren. Our  late  respected  citizen,  Capt.  Daniel  Hunt,  was 
the  fourth  child  of  Ephraim  and  Abigail  Hunt.  Captain 
Hunt  was,  for  many  years,  master  of  a  vessel,  and  sailed 
usually  from  Philadelphia ;  he  married  his  wife  there,  the 
widow  Angelina  Hastie.  Her  first  husband  was  also  a  ship- 
master. In  the  latter  years  of  his  life,  Capt.  Hunt  kept  a 
hotel  in  Gorham  village  ;  he  died  here  in  1833,  aged  58, 
Mrs.  Hunt  and  her  three  daughters  removed  to  New  Yorky 


170  HISTORY    OF    GORHAM. 

where  she  died  a  few  years   ago ;  her  maiden  name  was 
Griffith. 

Ichabod  Hunt  married  Mary  Stone  ;  they  had  eight  chil- 
dren born  between  1780  and  1800. 

Oliver  Hunt  and  Joseph  Hunt  came  from  ]\Iilton,  Mass. 
Oliver  was  an  officer  in  the  Revolutionary  army,  and  re- 
ceived a  pension.  *'  He  married  in  Providence,  Rhode  Island, 
where  his  first  two  children  were  born,  Oliver  and  John. 
In  Gorham  he  had  four  children — William,  born  In  1792 ; 
Hannah,  in  1794;  Nabby,  1796;  Charles,  B.,  in  1800.  The 
youngest  son,  Charles  B.,  was  the  late  Hon.  Charles  B. 
Hunt,  Representative  from  Gorham,  in  1836  and  1837,  and 
subsequently,  a  Senator  from  Cumberland  County  in  the 
Leo-islature  of  Maine.  Mr.  Hunt  was  also  a  Trustee  of 
Gorham  Seminary.  Mr.  Joseph  Hunt  came  here  and  set 
up  his  trade,  being  a  hatter.  He  married  Jane  McLellan ; 
they  had  two  children,  Jane  and  Joseph.  Mr.  Hunt  died 
in  1861,  acred  81 :  his  widow  and  children  survive. 


HUSTON. 

Simon  Huston,  and  Elizabeth,  his  wife,  had  ten  children — 
David,  born  in  Falmouth  in  1762,  the  other  nine,  in  Gor- 
ham, viz  :  Elizabeth,  in  1764  ;  Eunice,  1765  ;  Annah,  1767  ; 
Simon,  1769  ;  Mary,  1771 ;  William,  1772  ;  Rebecca,  1774  ; 
Lydia,  1776  ;  and  Simon,  1779. 

The  younger  Simon  died  without  issue,  and  by  his  will 
bequeathed  to  the  town  of  Gorham,  his  valuable  farm,  for 
the  support  of  the  Poor,  the  town  to  come  in  possession  on 
the  decease  of  his  widow.  Mrs.  Huston  is  yet  living  ;  but 
the  town  has  rented  the  farm  for  many  years,  paying  Mrs. 
Huston  $165  annually ;  and  the  town  paupers   are  there 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES.  177 

kept  comfortably,  having  a  judicious  man  for  Superintend- 
ent. Corn,  grain,  hay  and  potatoes,  are  raised  in  considera- 
ble quantities,  most  of  the  labor  being  performed  by  the 
paupers. 


IRISH.. 


Janies  Irish  emigrated  from  Roxfordshire,  England,  about 
1710,  and  located  himself  at  Falmouth,  (Portland.)  He 
came  to  this  town  in  1738,  and  was  among  the  first  few 
settlers.  Mr.  Irish  had  five  sons  and  one  daughter  born, 
before  he  removed  to  this  place,  viz  :  John,  Joseph,  Thomas, 
James,  William,  and  Miriam.  He  took  his  family  here, 
but  when  the  Indian  war  broke  out,  Mr.  Irish  removed  back 
to  Falmouth,  being  a  place  of  greater  safety.  As  soon  as 
the  danger  from  the  savag-es  was  over,  Mr.  Irish  and  his 
family  returned  to  Gorham,  and  re-occupied  his  land.  Mir- 
iam man-ied  Gamaliel  Pote,  of  Falmouth.  John,  Thomas, 
and  James,  settled  in  Gorham  f  Joseph  and  William  settled 
in  Buckfield.  Most  of  these  men  had  large  families,  and 
several  lived  to  be  very  aged.  John,  son  of  James,  the 
emigrant,  had  six  children  born  between  1746  and  1760, 
Thomas  had  ten  children,  viz :  Susanna,  Isaac,  Benjamin, 
Jacob,  Amy,  Abigail,  Gamaliel,  Deliverance,  Mary,  and 
Elizabeth.  Thomas  Irish  died  In  1832,  aged  98  years  and 
eight  months.  His  daughter.  Amy,  who  married  Samuel 
Burnell,  of  Baldwin,  lived  to  be  91  years  old.  William 
Irish  married  Mary  McCollIster ;  they  had  six  children — 
Thomas,  Edmund,  Margery,  Dorcas,  Miriam,  and  Sylva- 
nus,  born  between  1766  and  1780.  James  Irish,  Jr.,  mar- 
ried Mary  Gorham  Phlnney,  daughter  of  Capt.  John  Phln- 
23 


178 


HISTORY   or   GORHAM. 


ney.     She  was  the  first  white  child  born  in  Gorham  ;  they 
had  nine  children,  viz  : — 


1. 

Stephen, 

born  March  25,  1757  ; 

died  1841,  J 

iged  84. 

2. 

"William, 

"'i 

March  12,  1759 

"     1815, 

"     5Q. 

Martha, 

Aug.     28,  17G1 

"     1836, 

"    75. 

4. 

Ebenezer, 

April      5,  1764 

"     1851, 

"     87. 

5. 

Obadiah, 

July     17,  1766 

;     "     1852, 

"     86. 

6. 

Mary, 

June     24,1768; 

"     1846, 

"     78. 

7. 

Patience, 

Jan.      31,  1771 

;     "     1854, 

"     83. 

8. 

Samuel, 

April      8,  1773 

"     1825, 

"    52. 

9. 

James, 

Aug.     18,  1776 

;     now   livin 

g   at   the 

age 

of  86  yei 

irs. 

James  Ii-ish,  the 

father,   died 

in  1816, 

aged  80  ;  his  widow,  in  1825,  aged  89  years.  All  the  chil- 
dren of  James  and  Mary  Gr.  Irish,  were  married.  Stephen 
married  Anna  Bangs  ;  William,  Sarah  Murch ;  Martha, 
Stephen  Whitney  ;  Ebenezer,  Patty  Morton  ;  Obadiah, 
Mary  Dean  ;  Mary,  Timothy  Bacon  ;  Patience,  John  Davis ; 
Samuel,  Martha  Blake ;  and  James,  Rebecca  Chadbourne, 
for  his  first  wife  —  his  second  wife  was  the  widow  Louisa 
Mason. 

Hon.  James  Irish,  now  one  of  our  oldest  citizens,  has  lived 
an  active  and  enterprising  life  ;  he  has  been  much  in  public 
life,  and  probably  has  held  more  commissions  than  any  other 
man  in  Gorham  ;  in  the  military  line,  holding  nearly  all  the 
ranks  from  a  private  up  to  a  Brigadier  General.  In  civil 
life,  he  has  been  Selectman,  Representative,  Senator,  and 
Land  Agent  of  Maine  ;  he  was  also  a  member  of  the  Con- 
stitutional Convention  of  this  State,  and  has  held  many 
other  inferior  offices. 


BIOGRAPHICAL   NOTICES.  179 


JENKINS, 


Capt.  Joslah  Jenkins  was  an  officer  In  :].e  Revolutionary 
army,  and  was  in  an  engagement  on  Lake  Cliamplain.  He 
also  fought  in  the  battle  of  Monmouth.  He  was  a  United 
States'  pensioner  at  the  time  of  his  death,  in  1831,  when  he 
was  81  years  old.  His  wife  was  Prudence  Davis  ;  they  had 
seven  children  —  Sarah,  two  Marys,  Aurelia,  Nancy,  Jo- 
slah, and  Katherine. 


JEWETT. 

Eev.  Caleb  Jewett  was  from  Newburyport,  and  was  set- 
tled in  Gorham  in  1783.  He  was  dismissed  from  his  charge 
in  1800,  and  died  in  this  town  in  1802.  Mr.  Jewett's  resi- 
dence was  the  house  now  occupied  by  his  grand  son,  Henry 
Broad.  Mr.  Jewett  had  four  children  —  Jonathan,  Martha, 
Caleb,  and  Betsey. 


JONES 


Henry  Jones  came  from  Scarborough,  and  settled  here 
about  1757  ;  he  had  four  children  —  Jeremiah,  Ephraim,  Jo- 
seph, and  Lydia.  Jeremiah  Jones  came  from  Boston  to 
Gorham  ;  he  had  one  son,  Jeremiah,  born  in  1778.  Joseph 
Jones,  son  of  Henry,  married  Deborah  Hanscom  ;  their 
children  were  Henry,  Moses,  Samuel,  John  and  Hannah. 
There  was  also  living  here,  in  1788,  a  William  Jones,  Avho 
had  four  children,  Sally,  Wealthy,  Hiram,  and  John. 


180  HISTOEY    OP   GORHAM. 


JOHNSON. 

There  are  many  of  this  name  In  Gorhara.  Stephen  John- 
eon  lived  here  before  1774.  John  Johnson,  who  had  six 
children,  resided  in  town  in  1784,  and  subsequently.  I  do 
not  know  where  they  came  from.  Matthew  Johnson  came 
from  that  part  of  Falmouth  which  Is  now  Westbrook  ;  his 
sons  were  Thomas,  William,  John,  and  Samuel.  Hannah 
was  his  daughter ;  she  married  a  cousin,  the  late  Captain 
Robert  Johnson,  who  was  the  son  of  Robert  Johnson. 
Most  of  the  Messrs.  Johnsons  have  been  largely  engaged  in 
farmlns;. 


KEMP. 


Ebenezer  Kemp  came  here  after  the  Revolutionary  war, 
from  Groton,  Mass.  ;  he  died  in  this  town  in  1833,  aged  88 
years. 


KNIGHT. 

Capt.  Joseph  Knight  removed  from  Falmouth  to  Wind- 
ham, and  from  the  latter  town  to  this  place.  He  had  eleven 
children  —  Lydia,  born  in  Falmouth  in  1761 ;  Phebe,  in 
Windham  in  1763  ;  Nathaniel,  in  Gorham,  1765  ;  Daniel, 
1768  ;  Joseph,  1771 ;  Nabby,  1773  ;  Joseph,  1775  ;  Samuel, 
1778  ;  Morris,  1780  ;  Winthrop,  1782,  and  Benjamin,  1785. 
Capt.  Knight  died  in  1797. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES.  181 


L  AKEM  AN, 


The  Lakemans  settled  early  In  town.  William,  whose 
wife  was  Hannah  Doane,  and  their  children  —  Mary,  born 
in  1756 ;  Hannah,  in  1758,  and  Josiah  Harding  in  1762. 
Josiah  Lakeman  married  Esther  Cobb,  and  had  Solomon, 
Polly  and  Betsey.  Solomon  married,  and  had  one  son,  Jo- 
siah, and  two  daughters,  Mary  Ann  and  Martha. 


L  A  E  R  T 


Dennis  Larry,  the  elder,  emigrated  from  Ireland,  and  set- 
tled in  Gorham  about  the  close  of  the  Indian  war ;  he  mar- 
ried Patience  Wooster  ;  their  son,  Stephen,  was  born  in  this 
town  in  1763.  Dennis  Larry  died  in  1807,  aged  90  years ; 
His  wife,  Patience,  in  1809,  94  years  old.  Their  son, 
Stephen,  married  Abigail  Hamblen ;  their  children  were 
Patience,  John,  James,  Stephen,  and  Joseph.  James  grad- 
uated at  Bowdoin  College  in  the  class  of  1821,  and  soon 
went  to  Virginia,  where  he  has  since  resided.  Stephen 
Larry,  senior,  died  in  1838,  aged  75  years. 


LEWIS. 

Deacon  and  Major  George  Lewis  came  from  Barnstable, 
Mass.,  where  all  his  children  were  born.  His  first  wife  was 
Mehitable  Davis,  daughter  of  Daniel  Davis,  Esq.,  Judge  of 
Probate,  who  died  in  Barnstable.  His  second  wife,  also  a 
Barnstable  woman,  was  Desire  Parker.     Mr.  Lewis'  chil- 


182  HISTOKY   OF   GOKHAM. 

dren  were  —  1st,  Lothrop,  born  in  1763  ;  2cl,  Mehitable ; 
3d,  Ansel  ;  4tli,  Sallj  ;  5th,  Annah  ;  6tli,  Daniel  ;  Tth, 
James ;  Sth,  George  ;  9tli,  Abigail  ;  lOtli,  Caroline.  The 
family  were  highly  respectable,  and  immediately  took  a 
prominent  place  among  our  citizens.  Deacon  Lewis  died  in 
Gorham,  July  24,  1819,  aged  79  years. 

Probably  no  Gorham  man  ever  stood  higher  in  the  esti- 
mation of  his  fellow  citizens  than  the  Hon.  Lothrop  Lewis. 
His  morals  were  pure,  his  mind  lucid  ;  of  steadfast  integrity, 
correct  behavior,  obliging  and  courteous  in  manner,  prudent 
in  words  and  action,  distinguished  for  sound  common  sense, 
and  inflexibly  just ;  his  mind  was  not  brilliant,  nor  its  oper- 
ations rapid,  but  clear,  persevering  ;  with  a  power  of  correct 
discrimination,  his  conclusions  were  nearly  always  correct ; 
he  was  popular  in  the  town,  county  and  State.  Mr.  Lewis 
was  much  engaged  when  young  as  a  surveyor  of  lands,  and 
in  locating  roads.  He  was  the  surveyor  in  locating  the  first 
road  from  Standish  throuo-h  Baldwin  to  Bridgton.  He  was 
often  a  referee  in  important  and  difficult  cases.  During  his 
life  he  held  many  civil  and  military  offices,  and  discharged 
the  duties  of  all  with  fidelity,  and  to  the  acceptance  of  his 
employers  and  the  people.  In  the  military  line  he  rose  to 
the  Colonelcy  of  a  Regiment  of  Cavalry.  In  civil  life  he  was 
a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Deputy  Sheriff,  Assessor,  Selectman, 
Kepresentative  of  his  town  in  the  General  Court  of  Massa- 
chusetts and  the  Legislature  of  Maine.  He  was  one  of 
Gov.  Strong's  Board  of  War  in  1812-15.  At  the  time  of  his 
death,  which  occurred  Oct.  9,  1822,  he  was  Land  Agent 
of  Maine,  and  died  at  Bangor  in  the  discharge  of  his  official 
duty.  Col.  Lewis  was  twice  married,  first  to  Tabitha  Long- 
fellow, by  whom  he  had  two  children,  Stephen  Longfellow 
and  Mary.  His  son  was  born  in  1795,  his  daughter  in 
1796.  Stephen  studied  law  and  settled  in  Athens,  Somer- 
.set  County,  Maine.     He  died  nearly  forty  years  ago,  leav- 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES.  183 

ing  two  daughters.  Mary  Lewis  married  Jacob  S.  Smith, 
Esq.  ;  they  had  two  sons,  Lothrop  Lewis  and  Samuel  Long- 
fellow. Col.  Lewis'  second  wife  was  Mary  J.  Little,  widow 
of  John  Park  Little  ;  her  maiden  name  was  Prescott,  a 
daughter  of  Judge  Prescott,  of  Groton,  Mass.,  By  his  sec- 
ond wife.  Col.  Lewis  had  three  children  —  Annah,  Catherine, 
and  Elizabeth,  all  of  whom  have  deceased.  Annah  and 
Catherine  died  young.  Elizabeth  married,  first,  Stephen 
M.  Staples,  Esq.,  and  secondly,  Hon.  Hugh  D.  McLellan. 
Maj.  George  Lewis'  children  were  all  respectable  and  useful 
citizens.  Ansel  was  a  lumber  surveyor  in  Portland.  Dan- 
iel was  a  Baptist  clergyman ;  he  settled  in  Patterson,  New 
Jersey,  where  he  died  a  few  years  ago.  Of  Rev.  James,  I 
have  spoken  under  the  title  of  "  Methodists."  George  was  a 
farmer  in  Bridgton,  and  was  Major  of  a  Regiment  of  militia. 
Mehitable  married  a  Mr.  Crocker ;  Sally  married  Captain 
Ebenezer  Peabody  ;  Annah  married  John  Darling ;  Abigail 
married  Capt.  William  Prentiss  ;  she  was  the  mother  of  the 
distinguished  orator,  Seargeut  S.  Prentiss. 


LIBBT. 


There  have  been  many  families  of  Libbys  in  this  town. 
They  have  written  their  names  Libbee,  Libbey,  and  Libby  . 
the  latter  is  now  the  most  common  way  of  spelling  the  name. 
Before  the  Revolution  there  resided  here  Joab  Libbey,  Jo- 
seph Libbee,  Reuben  Libbee  ;  several  others  came  soon  after 
the  war.  I  believe  nearly  all  of  them  were  from  Scarbor- 
ough.    At  the  present  time,  the  name  is  common  among  us. 


184  HISTORY    OF    GORHAM. 


LINCOLN, 

The  Lincolns  came  to  Gorliam  from  HIngliam,  Massachu- 
setts. Royal  and  John  Lincoln  were  farmers.  John  was 
also  a  master  of  a  vessel  several  years.  They  had  families, 
but  none  of  the  name  now  live  in  town^ 


L  O  M  B  A  E  D . 

There  were  three  Lombards  among  the  original  grantees 
of  this  township.  Caleb  and  Jedediah,  of  Barnstable,  and 
Jonathan,  of  Tisbury,  Mass.  Some  of  their  sons  settled  in 
Gorham,  and  have  descendants  now  in  town.  I  have  given 
on  a  preceding  page,  some  account  of  Rev.  Solomon  Lom- 
bard, the  first  settled  clergyman.  He  had  several  children. 
His  sons,  Solomon  and  Richard,  had  large  families ;  Solomon, 
Jr.,  had  Richard,  born  1761 ;  Susannah,  1762  ;  Hannah, 
1764  ;  Solomon,  1766  ;  James,  1768  ;  Lydia,  1771 ;  Peter, 
1772  ;  Ephraim,  1773  ;  Solomon,  1775  ;  Mary,  1777  ;  Sam- 
uel, 1779.  Samuel  is  still  living,  in  the  83d  year  of  his  age. 
Richard  Lombard,  son  of  Rev.  Solomon,  had  nine  chil- 
dren—  John,  Paul,  Joseph,  Lydia,  Ebenezer,  Bethshuah, 
Richard,  Simon  and  Sarah.  Ebenezer  was  the  Class  Leader 
of  the  first  Methodist  Class  gathered  in  this  town.  Both 
he  and  his  brother  Richard,  were  Methodist  preachers,  and 
itinerated  extensively.  Calvin  Lombard  had  eight  children. 
He  was  one  of  the  Gorham  Minute  men  that  went  with  Col. 
Phinney  to  Portland,  when  the  trouble  with  Coulson  and 
Capt.  Mowatt  occurred.  There  was  great  excitement ;  about 
six  hundred  men  collected  between  meetings  on  Sunday. 
Calvin  Lombard  went  to  the  water  side  as  near  Mowatt's 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES.  185 

ship  as  he  could  well  get,  and  fired  a  brace  of  balls  at  the 
ship,  which  penetrated  deep  Into  its  side  ;  the  fire  was  an- 
swered from  a  fusee  on  board.  Mowatt  wrote  to  Col.  Free- 
man to  deliver  up  Calvin,  assuring  him  that,  otherwise,  he 
should  fire  upon  the  town.  Lombard  was  not  given  up,  but 
returned  to  Gorham.  Nathaniel  Lombard  and  Butler  Lom- 
bard, were  soldiers  in  Captain  Hart  Williams'  company,  in 
1775.  John  Lombard  was  in  the  sea  service  of  the  United, 
States  in  the  war  of  the  Eevolution,  and  he  received  a  pen- 
sion in  the  latter  years  of  his  life.  He  died  in  Gorham,  in 
1844,  aged  85  years. 


LONGFELLOW. 

Stephen  Longfellow,  the  first  of  the  name  here,  came  from 
Portland  in  1775.  He  had  held  many  important  town  and 
county  offices  while  he  lived  in  Portland.  His  father  came 
from  Newbury,  Mass.,  to  Portland,  about  1745.  Mr.  Long- 
fellow died  in  Gorham  in  1790.  His  son,  Stephen,  who  was 
one  of  the  most  distinguished  and  respected  of  our  citizens 
was  born  in  Portland  in  1750,  and  came  here  when  he  was 
about  twenty-five  years  old.  He  was  largely  employed  as  a 
Surveyor,  Selectman,  and  held  various  other  municipal  offices. 
He  represented  this  town,  in  the  General  Court  of  Massa- 
chusetts, eight  years.  Afterwards  he  was  a  Senator  of  Cum- 
berland County  for  several  sessions,  when  he  was  appointed 
Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  and  held  the  office 
from  1797  to  1811.  He  occupied  a  large  farm  that  he 
owned  in  the  southerly  part  of  the  town,  near  Westbrook. 
His  wife  was  Patience  Young,  of  York.  They  were  mar- 
ried in  1773.  They  had  six  children,  viz : — Tabitha,  born 
October  9,  1774;  Stephen,  March  23,  177G ;  Abigail,  Jan- 
24 


186  HISTORY    OF    GORHAM. 

uary  18,  1779  ;  Anna,  November  26,  1781 ;  Katherine, 
August  20,  1786,  and  Samuel,  July  30,  1789.  Judge 
Longfellow  died  in  Gorham  in  1824,  aged  74  years.  His 
daughter,  Tabitha,  Avas  tbe  first  wife  of  Hon.  Lothrop  Lewis  j 
she  died  in  1807.  Stephen,  Jr.,  son  of  Judge  Longfellow, 
graduated  at  Harvard  College,  in  1798.  He  read  law  with 
Salmon  Chase,  Esq.,  of  Portland,  and  on  being  admitted  to 
the  Bar,  at  once  entered  upon  a  large  practice,  and  gained 
an  early  and  honorable  distinction  in  his  chosen  profes- 
sion. He  stood  in  the  first  rank  of  the  able  counselors  who 
were  his  cotemporaries.  Mr.  Longfellow's  industry,  perse- 
verance, and  uprightness  in  all  his  pursuits,  were  remarka- 
ble. He  was  modest  and  unassuming,  but  inflexible  in  pur- 
pose and  action.  No  man  among  us  sustained  a  higher  or 
purer  character.  He  held  many  important  offices.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  celebrated  Hartford  Convention  in  1814, 
and  a  member  of  Congress  ten  years  later.  After  a  pro- 
tracted illness,  he  died  in  1839,  aged  73  years.  Abigail, 
the  second  daughter  of  Judge  Longfellow,  married  Colonel 
Samuel  Stevenson,  of  Gorham.  She  still  lives.  Anna  died 
unmarried  in  1811.  Katherine  died  in  1804,  at  the  age  of 
18.  Samuel  Longfellow,  the  youngest  son,  followed  the  sea 
for  some  years,  and  then  married  and  lived  with  his  father, 
had  one  daughter,  and  died  in  Oct.,  1818.  Col.  Longfel- 
low's widow  married  Judge  Asa  Redington. 


McCOLLESTEK.  —  McC  ORRIS  ON. 

William  McCollester  came  from  England,  it  is  said.  His 
ancestors  spelled  their  name  McAllister.  William,  the 
emigrant,  settled  here  early  ;  his  son  was  born  in  the  fort,  in 
Gorham,  March  7,  1750.     His  father,  William,  was  taxed 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES.  187 

in  the  Province  tax  in  1762  ;  he  then  paid  one  of  the  largest 
taxes  in  Gorham.  James  married  Deliverance  Rich  when 
he  was  seventeen  years  old;  they  had  six  children  —  Lem- 
uel, born  in  1767  ;  Amos,  1769  ;  James,  1771 ;  Mary,  1774  ; 
Patience,  1776  ;  Betty,  1779.  His  second  wife  was  Mary 
Flood  ;  by  her  he  had  nine  children,  making  fifteen  in  all. 
Mr.  McCollester  w^as  one  of  the  earliest  converts  to  the  faith 
of  the  New  Lights,  and  became  one  of  their  most  promi- 
nent preachers.  His  education  was  very  limited  ;  he  was 
earnest  and  vociferous  against  "  book  learning,  and  salaried 
ministers."  His  meetings  were  very  disorderly.  After 
awhile  they  become  more  sedate  and  systematic,  and  out  of 
the  New  Lights  sprung  the  Freewill  Baptist  Society  in  this 
town.  Mr.  McCollester  changed  his  name  to  McCorrison, 
and  his  numerous  descendants  so  write  the  name,  James 
McCollester,  or  McCorrison,  lived  till  1820,  and  died  at  his 
son's  house  in  Standish,  at  the  age  of  70  years.  When 
young,  James  McCorrison  was  an  expert  hunter,  which,  in 
those  days,  was  a  highly  prized  attainment ;  many  were  the 
bears,  deers  and  wolves  that  he  killed.  In  his  old  age  he 
used  to  relate  a  hunting  feat  performed  by  himself  and  his 
brother-in-law.  Rich,  which  he  said  was  the  occasion  of 
much  scandal,  respecting  himself  and  his  religious  society. 
He  acknowledged  he  did  wrong  and  justly  merited  rebuke, 
and  he  never  ceased  to  condemn  his  own  act,  but  he  believed 
the  whole  affair  was  the  device  of  the  Devil,  to  tempt  him 
from  the  path  of  duty,  and  he  succeeded  that  time  ;  but  he 
used  to  add,  that  Satan  was  never  able  to  entrap  him  again, 
at  least,  not  in  that  way.  The  story  was  this  : — Mr.  Mc- 
Corrison had  a  large  family  ;  they  were  out  of  meat.  On 
Saturday  he  went  into  the  woods  in  quest  of  game  ;  he 
traversed  the  forests  nearly  all  day  without  any  success  — 
an  uncommon  occurrence  in  those  days.  Night  was  near,  and 
he  turned  his  weary  steps  homewards,  hungry  and  depressed 


io»  HISTORY   OF   GORIIAM. 

in  spirit;  lie  looked  ahead,  and  saw  directly  In  lils  path 
what  appeared  to  be  a  large  deer ;  the  animal  was  so  near 
he  felt  sure  of  killing  him ;  he  fired,  but  strange  to  tell, 
the  deer  stood  still  and  looked  full  on  Mr.  McCorrison ;  he 
stepped  towards  the  deer  which  gave  one  bound  and  disap- 
peared in  the  woods.  It  was  too  dark  to  follow  him.  Mc- 
Corrison thought  he  found  blood,  and  felt  certain  the  deer 
was  wounded,  and  that  he  could  not  go  far ;  he  marked  the 
spot,  that  he  might  find  it  again  ;  he  determined  to  come 
early  in  the  morning,  though  it  would  be  Sunday ;  (Mr. 
McCorrison  was  a  constant  advocate  for  a  strict  observance 
of  the  Sabbath.)  He  meant  to  quietly  secure  his  game, 
and  let  no  one  know  of  the  affair.  Sunday  morning  came  ; 
he  called  on  his  brother-In-laAV,  Rich,  told  him  of  his  adven- 
ture with  the  deer,  the  preceding  evening,  and  requested  him 
to  accompany  him.  Mr.  Rich  consented  to  go.  They  took 
their  guns,  but  agreed  not  to  use  them,  unless  it  should  be 
necessary,  to  secure  the  wounded  deer.  Soon  after  arriving 
at  the  place  In  the  woods,  where  Mr.  McCorrison  had  fired, 
the  evening  before,  a  large  deer  made  his  appearance  ;  they 
fired  and  brought  him  down  ;  they  could  find  no  mark  of  a 
previous  shot,  so  they  continued  to  hunt  for  the  missing 
deer.  Deer  after  deer  were  seen  and  killed  by  McCorrison 
and  Rich,  but  on  none  of  them  did  they  find  any  former 
wound.  They  were  excited  by  their  sport,  and  continued  to 
hunt  through  the  day.  When  it  grew  dark,  they  set  out  for 
their  homes,  having  killed  eight  fine  deer,  in  their  Sunday 
hunt.  Sucli  extraordinary  success  in  hunting  could  not  be 
kept  secret ;  it  was  soon  noised  abroad  that  two  of  the  most 
strict  and  prominent  of  the  New  Light  Society  had  been 
hunting  and  killing  deer  all  one  Sabbath  day.  Elder  Mc- 
Corrison was  strongly  reproved  by  his  brethren,  and  he 
never  ceased  to  regret  that  violation  of  holy  time. 


BlOGIiAPIIICAL   NOTICES.  189 


Mcdonald 


There  were  several  families  of  McDonald  in  Gorliam  prior 
to  the  Revolution.  Charles  McDonald  married  Priscilla 
Davis  ;  they  had  nine  children  born  between  1762  and  1785, 
viz:  —  Meribah,  Susanna,  Nancy,  Simon D.,  Jacob,  Charles, 
Joseph,  Mary,  and  Elizabeth. 

Robert  McDonald  married  Mary  Kendrick,  and  had  six 
children — Samuel  M.,  born  1771  ;  John,  April  15,  1773  ; 
Robert,  1775  ;  Abner,  1778  ;  Miriam,  1782,  and  Bcnoni, 
1785.  John,  who  was  born  in  1773,  was  the  Hon.  John 
McDonald,  late  of  Limerick,  the  father  of  Hon.  Moses  Mc- 
Donald, member  of  Congress  a  few  years  ago,  and  recently 
Collector  of  the  District  of  Portland. 

Peletiah  McDonald  had  two  children  —  William,  and 
Eleanor.  William  is  said  to  have  been  born  at  Fort  Put- 
nam, on  Hudson's  river,  in  1779,  his  father  being  in  the  Con- 
tinental army,  and  stationed  at  that  port.  Abner  McDonald 
had  four  children — William,  Dorcas,  Sally,  and  Enoch. 


McLELL  AN. 

Hugh  McLellan,  and  Elizabeth,  his  wife,  were  among  the 
first  settlers  of  Gorham.  They  were  born  in  the  County  of 
Antrim,  Ireland ;  their  family,  it  is  said,  were  descendants 
of  Sir  Hugh  McLellan,  of  Argyle,  Scotland,  and  that  they 
had  been  residents  in  Ireland,  for  nearly  a  century  previous 
to  their  emigration  to  America.  Huo;h  and  his  wife  were 
decided  Presbyterians.  They  were  somewhat  related  before 
marriage ;  she  was  a  year  older  than  her  husband,  and  was 
born  in  1709 ;  her  father  was  Cary  McLellan.      Hugh's 


190  HISTORY    OF    GOEHAM. 

cousin,  Bryce,  and  brother  James,  came  to  America  before 
Hugh.  Bryce  settled  in  Portland,  and  James  in  Saco. 
Hugh  and  his  wife,  and  their  son  William,  then  one  year 
old,  sailed  from  Londonderry  in  1733,  and  after  a  long  and 
dangerous  passage,  they  arrived  in  Boston.  On  their 
voyage  they  had  another  child  born.  From  Boston  they 
came  to  York,  Maine.  Thence  to  Saco,  and  then  to  Fal- 
mouth, and  settled  at  Back  Cove ;  but  on  account  of  In- 
dians they  moved  into  Portland.  When  in  Portland,  Mr. 
McLellan  purchased  a  grantee's  right  of  land,  (200  acres) 
in  this  town.  Like  most  of  the  emigrants,  at  that  period, 
Mr.  McLellan  was  poor,  and  it  is  said  the  ten  pounds  which 
he  gave  was  about  all  his  property.  He  came  to  Gorham, 
and,  repairing  a  logging  camp  on  his  land,  on  the  easterly 
side  of  the  Fort  Hill  road,  opposite  the  brick  house,  he  moved 
his  family  here  about  1740.  They  brought  but  little  with 
them  —  a  cow,  a  horse,  and  a  few  household  goods,  with 
their  children,  William  and  Abigail.  They  commenced 
their  living  here  very  poor,  but  their  land  was  good,  and 
they  were  robust,  industrious,  temperate  and  frugal.  At 
the  time  of  the  Indian  massacre,  McLellan  and  his  fam- 
ily removed  to  the  garrison,  and  remained  there  about  seven 
years.  When  the  war  was  past  he  re-occupied  his  land,  and 
became  a  prosperous  farmer  and  lumberman.  When  the 
Province  tax  of  1763  was  assessed,  Hugh  McLellan  had  the 
largest  tax  in  town,  and  for  many  years  his  valuation  ex- 
ceeded that  of  any  other  citizen.  He  was  a  Ruling  Elder 
in  the  church  ;  an  upright,  conscientious  man,  hospitable 
and  benevolent. 

The  children  of  Hugh  and  Elizabeth  were  William,  born 
in  Ireland,  a  daughter,  born  on  the  passage,  and  died  young  ; 
Abigail,  Alexander,  Mary,  Carey,  Jane,  Thomas  and  Martha. 

William  married  Rebecca  Huston,  of  Falmouth,  in  1763. 
He  built  a  house  about  a  mile  from  the  village,  on  the  Scar- 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES.  191 

borough  road,  where  he  hved  till  his  death  ;  he  died  in 
November,  1812,  aged  83.  He  was  one  of  the  first  Trus- 
tees of  Gorham  Academy.  His  wife  died  Oct.  13,  1823, 
aged  81.  Mr.  William  McLellan  was  a  large  landholder, 
and  owned  mills  and  several  slaves.  One  nefrro,  Prince, 
brought  from  Antigua,  ran  away  and  enlisted  on  board 
Capt.  Manly's  privateer,  where  he  remained  about  a  year  ; 
was  discharged  at  Boston,  but  came  back  to  Gorham  and 
voluntarily  returned  to  a  state  of  slavery.  Mr.  McLellan 
settled  Prince  on  a  piece  of  land,  twelve  acres,  and  a  house 
free  during  the  life  of  Prince  and  his  wife  ;  and  ten  acres  of 
pasture  in  fee  simple,  and  made  provision  that  Prince  and 
his  wife,  Cliloe,  should  receive  a  comfortable  support  out  of 
the  McLellan  family,  during  their  lives.  After  the  Pension 
Law  of  1818  was  passed,  Prince  received  a  pension  for  life, 
for  services  in  Capt.  Manly's  vessel.  Prince  was  supposed 
to  be  over  one  hundred  years  old  when  he  died. 

Abigail  McLellan  married  James  McLellan,  son  of  Bryce, 
of  Portland.  He  came  to  Gorham,  and  lived  about  half  a 
mile  southerly  of  the  village  :  his  house  had  the  first  plas- 
tered rooms  in  town ;  the  house  is  still  standing,  and  is  now 
owned  by  Miss  Catherine  Storer.  James  McLellan  was  a 
Deacon  of  the  Congregational  church  in  Gorham.  He  had 
a  numerous  family.  Alexander,  son  of  Hugh,  married  Mar- 
garet Johnson  ;  they  had  eight  children  born  between  1766 
and  1778,  viz  : — Jenny,  James,  Isaac,  William,  Nelly,  Alex- 
ander, [a  second  James,  and  Jenny.  Carey  was  an  En- 
sign, and  his  brother  William  a  Lieutenant,  in  Capt.  Hart 
Williams'  Company  in  1775,  and  went  to  Cambridge  and 
Ticonderoga  with  Col.  Phinney's  Regiment.  Capt.  Alexan- 
der McLellan  commanded  a  Company  in  the  Penobscot 
expedition,  in  1779. 

Cary  McLellan,  son  of  Hugh,  married  Eunice  Elder ; 
their  children  wei'e   Mary,  born  in  1767  ;  Eunice,  1769  ; 


192  HISTORY   OF   GORHAM. 

Nancy,  1772 ;  2d  Nancy,  1794 ;  Gary,  1776 ;  2(1  Eunice, 
1778  ;  Alexander,  1780  ;  William  in  1782  ;  Samuel,  1784. 
Gary  McLellan's  second  wife  was  Mary  Parker  ;  tliey  had 
David,  born  in  1786  ;  Sally,  1788  ;  Betsey,  1789,  and  Tliom- 
asin  1791.  Gary  owned  and  occupied  the  old  tavern  house, 
now  altered  into  a  store,  and  occupied  by  Mr.  Charles  Eo- 
bie,  at  the  head  of  Main  Street.  Gary  McLellan  was  taken 
prisoner  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  confined  in  the  Jer- 
sey prison  ship  in  New  York  harbor,  as  related  on  a  preced- 
ino-  page,  whence  he  escaped.  He  died  in  Gorham  in  1805, 
about  60  years  old.  His  daughter,  Mary,  married  John 
Glements.  Nancy  married  Samuel  Staples.  Alexander  mar- 
ried twice  ;  by  his  first  wife,  Ghloe  Davis,  he  had  Hugh, 
Eunice,  and  Elizabeth ;  by  his  second  wife,  Belinda  Don- 
aldson, he  had  Evelina,  Ghloe,  Belinda,  Josiah  T.,  and 
Gharlotte.  Alexander  McLellan,  Esq.,  was  Postmaster  for 
many  years ;  his  son,  Hon.  Hugh  D.  McLellan,  now  living 
here,  has  held  many  civil  and  military  offices  ;  he  repre- 
sented the  town  three  years  in  the  Legislature  of  Maine, 
and  was  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives  in  1847-8. 
The  children  of  Alexander  McLellan,  through  both  his 
wives,  claim  descent  from  Rev.  John  Robinson,  of  Ley  den, 
Holland.  Samuel  McLellan,  brother  of  Alexander,  was 
thrice  married.  His  two  first  wives  were  Sarah  and  Rebec- 
ca McLellan  ;  by  them  he  had  no  children.  His  third  wife 
was  Tabitha  Flood ;  by  whom  he  had  Sarah,  Rebecca, 
Abby,  Martha,  Ann,  Simon  E.,  Isaac,  and  Lewis.  Jane, 
the  daughter  of  Hugh,  the  emigrant,  was  born  in  the  fort, 
in  Indian  times,  in  1748.  She  married  Hugh  Patten,  of 
Topsham.  Thomas,  the  youngest  son  of  the  eldest  Hugh, 
lived  and  died  in  the  old  paternal  mansion,  the  brick  house 
north  of  the  Academy  ;  he  married  Jenny  Patterson ;  she 
w^as  his  cousin,  and  they  had  nine  children  —  Hugh,  Eliza- 
beth, Robert,  Polly,  Benjamin,  Jenny,  Mary  Ann,  Thomas, 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES.  193 

and  John.  Mr.  McLellan  lived  in  the  two  story  brick  house 
built  by  his  father  about  the  commencement  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary war.  It  is  now  standing  and  in  good  repair,  and  is 
said  to  have  been  the  first  brick  liouse  erected  in  the  Coun- 
ty, and  that  it  was  four  years  in  building.  Thomas  died 
in  1829,  aged  75.  Old  Hugh,  the  patriarch  emigrant,  died 
in  1787,  aged  77  years  ;  his  widow,  Elizabeth,  died  in  1804, 
in  the  96th  year  of  her  age.  She  and  her  husband  left  high 
reputations  for  piety  and  benevolence.  Their  posterity  are 
numerous.  At  the  time  of  her  death,  the  old  lady  had  234 
livino^  descendants. 


MANN, 


Daniel  Mann  married  Hannah  Phinney  ;  they  had  two 
children  —  Edmund,  born  January  12, 1793  ;  Hannah,  born 
March  2,  1795. 

Hon.  Edmund  Mann  became  a  distinguished  citizen.  He 
was  many  years  one  of  our  Selectmen.  He  represented  this 
town  in  the  Legislature  three  years.  He  was  one  of  the 
Executive  Council  of  Governor  Dunlap,  and  subsequently 
one  of  the  County  Commissioners  for  Cumberland  County. 
He  died  March  8,  1862.  He  was  the  father  of  our  present 
County  Treasurer,  Hon.  James  Mann. 


MORTON. 


The  Mortons  emigrated  from  Cape  Cod.  Capt.  Briant 
Morton,  the  most  known  of  any  of  the  name  in  this  town, 
was  twice  married.     His  second  wife  he  married  here,  and 

9A 


194  HISTORY    OF    GORHAM. 

they  had  two  children  —  Jerusha  and  John.  Capt.  Mor- 
ton was  an  active  and  influential  man  in  the  Kevolution. 
>He  was  a  Ruling  Elder  in  the  Congregational  church  in 
1758-9.  He  was  one  of  those  who  were  opposed  to  Mr. 
Lombard's  ministry,  and  he  and  Col.  Phinney  ordained  Mr. 
Townsend.  He  was  one  of  the  earliest  members  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety  and  Correspondence,  in  1772.  He  was  a 
Delegate  to  the  Provincial  Congress,  held  at  Cambridge. 
He  was  the  Representative  of  the  town  in  1775  and  1776. 
In  1771,  he  was  one  of  the  most  zealous  of  the  Freewill 
Baptists.  Captain  Morton  died  in  1793.  His  whole  prop- 
erty was  inventoried  at  £142.  15s.  OOd — £90  of  which  was 
his  real  estate.  Ebenezer  Morton  was  here  and  married 
before  1760.  He  had  eight  children,  six  sons  and  two 
daughters.  Jabez  Morton  was  married  in  1766,  and  had 
five  daughters  and  three  sons.  Thomas  Morton  had  twelve 
children  —  James,  born  in  1753,  was  the  eldest ;  Thomas, 
Elliot,  a  second  James,  Major,  Micah,  and  Randell.  His 
daughters  were  Hannah,  Anna,  Mary,  Betsey,  and  Wealthy. 
James  Morton  and  Thomas  Morton  were  Revolutionary 
pensioners.     James  died  in  1840,  aged  87  years. 


M  O  S  H  E  R  . 

I  have  before  spoken  of  the  Mosier,  Moshier,  or  Mosher 
family,  on  page  33.  They  were  among  the  very  first  set- 
tlers, and  they  have  continued  the  name.  They  early  became 
large  land  holders,  and  have  ever  been  among  our  most  sub- 
stantial farmers.  The  Mosiers  lived  in  Falmouth  as  early  as 
1640.  James  Mosier,  supposed  to  have  been  the  son  of 
Hugh,  was  the  ancestor  of  all  of  the  name  in  Gorham ;  he 
was  living:  in  1666.     James  was  the  father  of  Daniel,  who 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES.  105 

moved  to  Gorhara  about  1738.  James  Mosicr,  the  son  of 
Daniel  the  settler,  married  Abigail  Frost ;  they  had  ten  chil- 
dren —  Susanna,  born  June  17,  1759 ;  Nathaniel,  Oct.  21st, 
1762  ;  James,  April  25,  1767  ;  2d  Nathaniel,  May  5,  1769  ; 
Abigail,  Sept.  1,  1771 ;  Benjamin,  January  30,  1774 ;  Jen- 
ny, Oct.  4,  1776  ;  Betsey,  March  4,  1780  ;  Nancy,  Nov. 
18,  1782,  and  Daniel,  Jan.  14,  1785.  Benjamin,  the  6th 
child,  is  yet  living  at  the  age  of  88  years,  the  oldest  man  in 
town.  His  father  James  lived  almost  a  century,  being  99 
years  and  three  months  old  when  he  died,  Oct.  2,  1834. 


MUKCH. 

There  were  four  families  of  the  name  of  Murch  here  be- 
fore the  incorporation  of  the  town.  Those  of  John,  Sam- 
uel, Walter,  and  Ebenezer.  John  had  seven  children  — 
Molly,  William,  Eunice,  George,  Samuel,  Tabitha,  and 
Martha.  Samuel  had  Eebecca,  Edmund,  and  William. 
Ebenezer,  Jr.,  had  seven  children,  one  son  and  six  daugh- 
ters. Ebenezer  Murch  was  a  Lieutenant  in  Capt.  A.  Mc- 
Lellan's  Company  in  1779.  Matthias  Murch  was  also  a 
Eevolutionary  soldier  and  pensioner  ;  he  died  in  1842,  aged 
88  years. 


NASON. 


Uriah  Nason  settled  in  town  about  1760,  in  the  northerly 
part  of  the  town ;  for  some  years  his  nearest  neighbor  was 
three  or  four  miles  distant ;  he  and  his  family  lived  quite 
secluded ;     Mi's.  Nason  used    to    sav  that   sometimes   she 


196  HISTOKY     OF    GORHAM. 

would  see  no  woman  for  months.  Mr.  Nason  had  eight 
children  —  Abraham,  born  in  1765  ;  then  William,  Samuel, 
Lot,  Margaret,  Abigail,  Joseph,  and  Uriah.  Uriah  Nason, 
senior,  died  in  1833,  aged  91  years. 

Ephraim  Nason  came  here  from  Cape  Elizabeth  where  his 
first  child  Eunice  was  born,  in  1785.  He  had  born  in  Gor- 
ham,  Richard,  Abigail,  Eleanor,  Ephraim,  and  Fanny. 


NEWCOMB 


Enos  Newcomb  was  in  town  soon  after  1780.  By  his 
first  wife.  Thankful  Morton,  he  had  six  children,  and  by  his 
second  wife,  five  more.  Mr.  Newcomb  died  in  1843,  at  the 
age  of  85,  leaving  a  numerous  i^osterity. 


PAINE. 


William  Paine,  and  Richard  Paine,  brothers^  were  from 
Eastham,  Mass.  In  1770  they  purchased  part  of  the  one 
hundred  acre  lot.  No.  63,  in  Gorham.  Richard  was  a  black- 
smith and  William  a  shoemaker.  William  married  Sarah 
Mayo,  of  Eastham,  where  his  first  child,  Mary,  was  born ; 
his  next,  William,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Gorham,  Dec.  29, 1770  ; 
Thankful,  in  1773 ;  Samuel,  1775 ;  Sarah,  1779  ;  Hannah, 
1781,  and  John  in  1783.  William,  senior,  served  in  the 
Revolutionary  army  ;  he  died  in  1827,  aged  85  years.  Wil- 
liam Paine,  Jr.,  married  Hannah  Cressey;  their  children 
were  Eliza,  James  and  Charles.  The  youngest  son,  Charles 
Paine,  Esq.,  was  Selectman  for  some  years,  and  Represen- 
tative in  the  Legislature  in  1853-54.     His  father,  William 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES.  197 

Paine,  died  in  1852,  aged  82.  Deacon  Samuel  Paine  died 
in  1856,  aged  81.  Richard  Paine  married  Thankful  Hard- 
ing for  his  first  wife  ;  his  second  wife  was  Elizabeth  Patrick. 
Mr.  Paine  had  seven  children. 


PATRICK. 

Charles  Patrick  removed  from  StroudAvater  village.  His 
wife  was  Mehitable  Fickett ;  their  children  were  David, 
Charles,  James,  Thomas,  Eleanor,  Stephen,  Nancy,  Chris- 
tiana, Polly,  and  Margaret.  Charles  Patrick  was  a  mason, 
and  did  the  first  plastering  in  Gorham,  being  the  house  of 
Deacon  James  McLellan,  senior.  Mr.  Patrick  died  in  1830, 
aged  85  years,  leaving  many  descendants. 


PE  ABOD  Y. 

•  Ebenezer  Peabody  was  the  son  of  Lieut.  Ebenezer  Pea- 
body,  of  Boxford,  Mass.  He  came  to  Gorham  and  married 
Sarah  Lewis,  daughter  of  Deacon  George  Lewis,  and  had 
four  children  born  in  this  town  —  Kendall  O.,  born  in  1792  ; 
Ebenezer,  1794 ;  Louisa,  in  1796  ;  Caroline,  in  1798.  Pie 
removed  to  Peterborough,  N.  H.,  and  cultivated  a  farm,  and 
had  four  more  children  born  there  ;  one  of  whom  was  our 
late  respected  citizen.  Dr.  William  H.  Peabody. 

Mr.  Peabody  was  a  cooper  by  trade,  and  while  he  resided 
in  Gorham,  he  often  went  to  sea  in  that  capacity.  He  died 
in  1816  ;  his  widow,  Sarah  Lewis  Peabody,  died  in  1849, 
Mrs.  Peabody  was  an  estimable  woman,  of  pure  and  exalt- 
ed character,  and  a  distinguished  christian  mother. 


198  HISTORY    OF    GORHAM. 


PHINNE  Y. 

On  page  31-32, 1  have  given  some  account  of  Capt.  John 
Phinney  and  two  of  his  children.  He  was  born  in  1693, 
April  19th.  He  died  in  Gorham,  Dec.  29,  1780,  aged  87 
years.  His  wife,  Martha  Colman,  died  Dec.  16,  1784,  also 
aged  87.  Capt.  Phinney  was  not  only  the  first  settler  of 
Gorham,  but  he  was  the  first  in  authority  and  standing  for 
many  years.  He  was  the  general  father  and  supervisor  of 
this  town  and  its  concerns.  His  mind  was  active,  inquisi- 
tive and  discriminating.  To  him  all  the  early  settlers  gave 
deference.  In  fine,  he  was  a  man  of  sagacity,  steadiness, 
courage,  and  integrity. 

Edmund,  eldest  son  of  Capt.  Phinney,  was  born  in  Barn- 
stable, in  1723.  He  came  to  this  town  with  his  father,  and 
felled  the  first  tree  for  settlement ;  he  grew  up  a  large,  stal- 
wart man,  active  and  fearless.  When  about  24  years  old, 
he  was  severely  wounded  by  a  party  of  Indians.  He  was 
accustomed  to  the  use  of  a  musket,  and  was  an  expert  hun- 
ter, and  was  skilful  in  all  wood  craft.  He  was  a  brave  and 
successful  warrior  in  Indian  conflicts.  He  had  a  decided 
passion  for  military  life.  He  held  a  Captain's  commission 
in  1772.  In  January,  1775,  he  received  a  Colonel's  com- 
mission, and  in  May  of  that  year,  he  marched  a  Regiment  to 
Cambridge,  and  when  the  British  troops  evacuated  Boston 
the  next  year,  Col.  Phinney's  Eegiment  was  the  first  of  our 
troops  to  enter  the  town. 

In  the  Autumn  of  1776,  Col.  Phinney  and  his  Regiment 
had  a  tedious  march  to  Ticonderoga,  and  took  part  in  the 
military  movements  of  the  northern  army  in  that  and  the 
following  year.  After  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne,  being 
out  of  health,  and  having  a  wife  and  eight  small  children  to 
provide  for,  he  resigned  his  commission  and  returned  to  his 


I 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES.  199 

farm,  which  is  the  one  now  called  the  Woodbury  place,  and 
Col.  Phinney's  house  stood  where  the  Woodbury  house  is 
now  standing.  Col.  Phinney  was  also  much  in  civil  life. 
Before  the  Revolutionary  war  broke  out  he  was,  for  many 
years,  a  Selectman,  one  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  and 
Correspondence,  Delegate  to  several  important  political  con- 
ventions, a  Representative  to  the  General  Court  three  years. 
He  was  a  ruling  Elder  in  the  Congregational  church  in 
Gorham.  He  was  a  patriotic,  noble  man,  of  unsullied  char- 
acter, and  generous  hospitality.  His  integrity  was  never 
doubted.  He  had  eight  children  —  Decker,  born  in  1752; 
Sarah,  1754  ;  Joseph,  1757  ;  Betty,  1750  ;  Edmund,  1760 ; 
Stephen,  1763  ;  James,  1768  ;  and  Nathaniel,  in  1771.  Col. 
Phinney  died  in  Gorham  in  December,  1808,  aged  85  years. 

John  Phinney,  Jr.,  son  of  Capt.  John,  planted  the  first 
hill  of  corn  planted  in  Gorham  by  white  men.  This  he  did 
under  the  direction  of  his  father,  who  bade  him  remember 
it.  John,  Jr.,  had  two  sons  in  the  army  of  the  Revolution, 
Ebenezer  and  John  3d,  and  he  himself  was  also  a  soldier  in 
the  same  war.  John  Phinney,  Jr.,  married  Rebecca  Saw- 
yer ;  they  had  seven  children  —  Sarah,  born  in  1755;  Re- 
becca, 1757  ;  Ebenezer,  1759  ;  John,  1762 ;  Martha,  1764 ; 
Abigail,  1766  ;  and  Colman,  in  1770. 

James  Phinney,  youngest  son  of  Capt.  John,  was  born  in 
Gorham,  April  13,  (old  style)  1741  ;  he  was  not  a  military 
man,  but  one  of  the  most  useful  and  respected  men  that  ever 
lived  in  the  town,  often  Selectman,  on  Committees  of  Safety, 
arbitrator  in  many  difficult  and  important  cases,  strictly 
honest  and  truthful ;  he  was  ever  trusted  and  beloved  by 
his  townsmen  ;  he  retained  his  intellectual  powers  to  an  ad- 
vanced life  ;  even  his  memory  was  tenacious  and  ready  when 
he  was  90  years  old.  He  was  an  ornament  to  the  town  and 
church  of  which  he  was  a  member  for  seventy-five  years. 

James  Phinney  was  twice  married.     His  first  wife  who 


200  HISTORY    OF   GORHAM. 

(lied  in  1816,  left  no  issue.  His  second  wife  was  Lucy- 
Cross,  daughter  of  Deacon  Thomas  Cross  ;  by  her  he  had 
a  daughter  after  he  was  80  years  old.  Mr.  Phinney's  widow 
is  still  living ;  his  daughter  is  the  Avife  of  Capt.  Thomas 
E.  Wentworth.  Joseph  Phinney,  son  of  Col.  Edmund, 
married  Susanna  Crockett,  and  had  seven  children,  one  son 
and  six  daughters.  James  Phinney,  son  of  Edmund,  mar- 
ried Abigail  Mosher.  Mr.  Phinney  died  January  13,  1860, 
in  the  93d  year  of  his  age.  His  son,  James,  grandson  of 
Col.  Edmund,  is  at  the  present  time,  the  Representative  of 
Gorham  in  the  Legislature  of  Maine. 

Elizabeth  Phinney,  eldest  daughter  of  Capt.  John  Phin- 
ney, married  EHphalet  Watson,  one  of  the  first  settlers  in 
Gorham  ;  they  had  ten  children.  Sarah  Phinney,  another 
daughter  of  Capt.  John,  married  Mr.  Samuel  Leavitt  of 
Buxton.  She  has  a  daughter  over  90  years  of  age,  now 
(1862)  living. 


PRENTISS. 

Samuel  Prentiss,  the  first  of  the  name  in  Gorham,  grad- 
uated at  Harvard  University  in  1771 ;  his  eldest  son  was 
born  in  Cambridge,  Mass.;  his  first  wife  had  two  children, 
William  and  Dolly ;  by  his  second  wife,  Rebecca  Cook,  he 
had  Hannah,  Rebecca,  Phebe,  Joanna,  Betsey  and  Francis. 
I  have  not  ascertained  the  exact  year  of  Mr.  Prentiss'  com- 
ing to  Gorham.  In  1770,  he  was  licensed  as  an  Inn-holder, 
and  in  1777  was  appointed  post-master,  being  the  first  in 
Gorham,  and  he  often  held  important  municipal  offices  ;  in 
1800  he  was  one  of  the  Selectmen.  He  died  in  1815.  His 
son,  William,  came  to  Gorham  with  his  father ;  he  followed 
the  sea,  and   became  a  skilful  and  successful  sea-captain. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES.  201 

He  was  a  very  active  and  enterprising  man,  and  had  the 
confidence  of  his  employers  and  of  all  who  knew  him.  He 
married  Abigail  Lewis,  daughter  of  Deacon  George  Lewis, 
and  settled  in  Portland,  where  his  three  elder  children  were 
born,  viz : — William,  Seargent  S.,  and  Samuel.  The  em- 
bargo and  the  following  war,  by  destroying  commerce, 
compelled  our  mariners  to  seek  other  employments.  Capt. 
Prentiss  purchased  a  farm  adjoining  that  of  Major  Lewis, 
the  father  of  his  wife,  erected  a  large  house  thereon,  and 
passed  the  remainder  of  his  life  there.  They  had  five  chil- 
dren born  in  Gorham — Mary  C,  Abigail  L.,  George  L., 
Hannah,  and  Mary  L.  Capt.  Prentiss'  second  son,  Sear- 
geant  Smith  Prentiss,  was  highly  gifted.  He  became  one 
of  the  most  celebrated  counselors  of  law  and  eloquent  ad- 
vocates, ever  known  in  the  United  States. 

Rev.  Doct.  George  L.  Prentiss  is  now  a  distinguished 
clergyman  of  New  York  city.  William,  the  eldest,  being 
a  merchant  in  the  same  city.  Annah  is  the  wife  of  the  Rev. 
Jonathan  Steams,  D.  D.,  of  Newark,  New  Jersey.  The 
widow  of  Capt.  Prentiss  resides  now  with  her  daughter, 
Stearns,  at  Newark.    None  of  the  farailv  remain  in  Gorham. 


RICH 


Lemuel  Rich,  the  ancestor  of  the  Riches  in  this  town,  was 
from  Truro,  Mass.  He  came  to  Gorham  with  his  sons, 
Ezekiel,  and  Lemuel,  Jr.,  and  perhaps  Amos,  Zephaniah, 
James,  and  Barnabas,  were  also  his  sons,  as  I  find  they  were 
residing  in  town  before  1770.  Ezekiel  was  born  in  1738. 
Lemuel,  senior,  died  in  1791,  near  90  years  of  age.  Ezekiel 
married  Sarah  Stevens,  daughter  of  Benjamin  Stevens,  one 
of  the  first  Narragansett  settlers.  Ezekiel  and  his  wife, 
2G 


202  HISTORY    OF    GORHAM. 

Sarah,  had  twelve  children  born  between  1765  and  1789, 
viz  : — Ezekiel  and  Samuel,  twins,  Keuben,  Elizabeth,  Benj- 
amin, Sarah,  Jerusha,  William,  Mehitable,  Peter,  Eunice, 
and  Stephen.  Lemuel  Eich,  Jr.,  had  six  children — Lem- 
uel, Boaz,  Samuel,  Israel,  Mary  and  Zachariah.  Zepha- 
niah  had  seven  children — Jonathan,  Ebenezer,  Zephaniah, 
Samuel  S.,  Ephraim,  Benjamin,  and  William.  Amos  Eich 
married  Eunice  Woodman ;  they  had  Moses,  John  Wood- 
man, Sarah,  Betsey,  Lydia,  Eunice,  and  Isaac.  John  Wood- 
man Eich,  our  respected  townsman,  was  born  Dec.  25, 
1785,  and  is  now  living  on  Fort  Hill  in  Gorham.  There 
are  very  few  of  the  name  now  in  town. 


ROLFE. 


Daniel  Eolfe,  Daniel  Eolfe,  Jr.,  and  Moses  Eolfe,  were 
early  settlers,  and  were  assessed  in  the  Province  tax  of 
1763.     They  soon  after  left  town. 


ROBERTS. 

Benjamin  Eoberts  was  a  citizen  of  Gorham  when  the 
town  was  incorporated.  He  had  eight  children — Mary, 
Benjamin,  John,  Jane,  born  in  Falmouth,  William,  born  in 
Cape  Elizabeth,  and  Susanna,  Stephen,  and  Dorcas,  in  Gor- 
ham. The  family  removed  to  Falmouth,  now  Westbrook. 
There  was  a  Joseph  Eoberts  lived  here  in  1782,  and  had  a 
family,  and  Joshua  Eoberts  and  family,  some  of  whose  chil- 
dren still  reside  in  town. 


BIOGRAPHICAL   NOTICES.  203 


ROBIE 


Toppan  Robie,  while  a  young  man,  came  here  before  the 
commencement  of  the  present  century.  He  was  born  in 
Chester,  N.  H.,  and  is  still  in  a  vigorous  old  age,  of  four- 
score years.  When  first  he  came  here,  he  was  a  clerk  in 
the  store  of  Daniel  Cressey — afterwards  a  partner  in  trade 
with  Sewall  Lanca'ster,  Esq.  Subsequently,  he  and  his 
brother,  the  late  Deacon  Thomas  S.  Robie,  carried  on  a 
large  and  lucrative  business,  as  retail  merchants,  for  a  long 
number  of  years.  Hon.  Toppan  Robie  has  filled  a  large 
place  in  the  affairs  of  Gorham,  having  by  turns  held  nearly 
every  municipal  office  ;  he  was  six  years  a  Representative  of 
Gorham  in  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts.  In  1820 
and  1821,  he  was  Representative  in  the  Legislature  of  Maine, 
and  since  he  was  one  of  the  Executive  Council  in  Governor 
Kent's  administration.  He  has  been  married  three  times ;  his 
first  wife  was  Lydia  Brown,  of  Chester,  sister  of  President 
Brown,  of  Dartmouth  College  ;  his  second  wife  was  Sarah 
T.  Lincoln,  daughter  of  Capt.  John  Lincoln,  of  Gorham  ; 
his  third  wife,  Ehza  Cross,  widow  of  Capt.  "Wilham  Cross. 
By  his  first  wife,  Capt.  Robie  had  a  son  and  daughter ;  by 
his  second,  three  sons.  The  youngest,  Frederick,  served  as 
Representative  of  the  town,  two  years,  and  afterwards  was 
a  member  of  the  Executive  Council  for  Cumberland  County, 
and  he  is  now  a  Paymaster  in  the  United  States  Army. 


ROSS. 


James  Ross  was  from  Stroma,  Scotland  -,  he  was  a  brother 
of  Capt.  Alexander  Ross  of  Portland.     James  was  one  of 


204  HISTORY    OF   GORHAM. 

the  earliest  school-masters  in  this  town.  His  wife's  name 
was  Hannah  ;  they  had  Sarah,  born  in  1766  ;  Alexander, 
in  1T69  ;  Walter,  in  1771 ;  Olley,  1773  ;  and  John  Matt,  in 
1778  ;  this  last  son  died  in  1779.  Hannah  Ross,  the  widow 
of  James,  died  Oct.  19,  1833,  aged  98  years. 


S  A  N  B  O  R  H . 

Joseph  Sanborn  resided  here  during  the  Revolutionary 
war.  He  had  two  sons — Elisha  and  Samuel.  Elisha  mar- 
ried Eunice  Hanscom  and  had  two  daughters.  The  name 
still  exists  in  town. 


SAWYER. 

John  Sawyer,  David  Sawyer,  Jonathan  and  Stephen  Saw- 
yer, were  early  settlers.  Joel  Sawyer  had  four  daughters — 
Eunice,  Polly,  Betsey,  and  Dorcas.  Jonathan  Sawyer  mar- 
ried Martha  Rich  in  1764.  They  had  eleven  children ;  five 
sons  and  six  daughters.  The  sons  were  John,  David, 
Barnabas,  Jonathan,  and  Samuel.  Zachariah  Sawyer  mar- 
ried Susanna  Skillings  and  had  a  son  Levi.  Toppan  Saw- 
yer had  six  children ;  his  twin  sons,  Thomas  Jefferson  Saw- 
yer and  James  Sullivan  Sawyer,  were  born  in  1808. 


SHAW. 


Josiah  Shaw  married  Tabitha  Watson.     They  had  eight 
children  ;  seven  sons  and  one  daughter.    The  Rev.  Benjamin 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES,  205 

T.  Shaw,  a  Baptist  clergyman  now  residing  in  Liberty,  is 
tlieir  son.  Mr.  Josiah  Shaw  was  a  saddler ;  he  also  kept  a 
public  house  where  Thomas  S.  Robie  lived,  now  owned  and 
occupied  by  Mrs.  Tyler. 


SILLA. 


John  Silla  had  a  daughter,  Rebecca,  born  here  in  1788, 
and  a  son,  David  Silla,  in  1789. 


SMITH. 


Ephraim  Smith,  Esq.,  came  from  Barnstable  to  Gorham 
soon  after  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  He  had  eight  chil- 
dren born  in  this  town  prior  to  1798.  Mr.  Smith  was  one 
of  the  disguised  party  that  threw  the  tea  from  the  British 
vessels  into  Boston  harbor,  in  1773.  He  died  in  Gorham 
January  13,  1835,  aged  84  years. 

Col.  John  Tyng  Smith  was  the  son  of  Rev.  Peter  Smith 
of  Windham  ;  his  wife  was  Mary  Duguid,  born  in  Scotland. 
She  was  a  niece  of  Mrs.  Tyng.  They  had  seven  sons  and 
no  daughter.  General  Wendell  P.  Smith  of  Portland  and 
General  Edward  T.  Smith  of  this  town,  are  sons  of  Col. 
John  T.  Col.  Smith  cultivated  a  large  farm  in  Gorham  ; 
he  was  an  excellent,  upright,  hospitable  man,  and  had  the 
respect  of  his  townsmen.  He  died  in  Gorham,  Oct.  22, 
1856,  aged  85  years. 


206  HISTORY    OF   GORHAM. 


SKILLINGS. 

Benjamin  Skillings  was  in  this  town,  among  its  first  set- 
tlers, when  the  Indian  war  of  1745  was  impending  ;  he  re- 
moved to  Falmouth  (Portland)  for  greater  safety.  At  that 
time  he  had  a  wife  and  three  children.  He  was  the  first 
man  that  settled  in  Gorham  westerly  of  Little  Eiver ;  he 
returned  to  his  farm  about  1752.  Mr.  Skilfings  had  nine 
children — Deliverance,  born  in  Gorham,  Oct.  15,  1741 ;  Su- 
sanna and  Isaac,  twins,  January  22,  1744  ;  John,  born  in 
Fahnouth,  March  2,  1746 ;  Thomas,  in  Falmouth,  May  8, 
1748 ;  Abigail,  born  in  Gorham,  March  30,  1753  ;  Anna, 
May  2, 1755  ;  Martha,  March  2, 1760  ;  and  Benjamin,  April 
2,  1763.  Isaac,  son  of  Benjamin,  married  Susanna  Watson ; 
they  had  Mary,  Elizabeth,  Tabitha,  Susanna,  Daniel,  John, 
and  Joseph  ;  Mary  was  born  in  1767  and  Joseph  in  1779. 
Thomas,  son  of  Benjamin,  married  Mary  Burnell ;  they  had 
nine  children — Benjamin,  John,  Isaac,  Thomas,  Mehitable, 
Betsey,  Polly,  Caleb,  and  Molly.  Their  descendants  are 
numerous. 


SNOW. 


Benjamin  Snow  was  an  early  settler.  The  family  have 
not  been  numerous.  Jane  Snow  died  in  1837,  aged  102 
years. 


STAPLES, 


Samuel   Staples  married  Nancy  McLcllan  and  had  six 
children — Samuel,  William,  Stephen  McL.,  Nancy,  Eliza- 


BIOGKAPHICAL    NOTICES.  207 

beth,  and  Albert  B.  Stephen  McLellan  Staples  graduated 
at  Bowdoin  College  in  the  class  of  1821.  He  was  a  teacher 
awhile  in  Philadelphia,  and  afterwards  a  surveyor  in  Mexico 
for  some  years.  After  his  return  to  the  United  States  he 
married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Hon.  Lothrop  Lewis.  He 
lived  but  a  short  time  and  died  without  issue.  Samuel 
Staples,  the  elder,  died  in  1837,  aged  71. 


STEVENS. 

Benjamin  and  Nathaniel  Stevens  were  settled  here  before 
the  Indian  war  ;  they  retired  to  Falmouth  in  1745  and  re- 
turned to  Gorham  in  1750.  Nathaniel  had  a  son  Nathaniel, 
born  in  Falmouth  in  1741  ;  Sarah,  born  in  Gorham  in  1744  ; 
Mehitable,  ^750 ;  Abigail,  1753  ;  Catherine,  1757  ;  Benja- 
min, 1763  ;  Joseph,  1764  ;  and  Samuel,  in  1766.  Nathan- 
iel, son  of  Nathaniel,  married  Elizabeth  Sinclair ;  they  had 
seven  children.  Benjamin  married  Amy  Webb  ;  they  had 
Harry,  John,  Charlotte,  and  Amy. 


STEPHENSON. 

Capt.  John  Stephenson  came  from  New  York  to  Portland, 
and  had  his  house  burned  when  Portland  was  destroyed  by 
Mowatt  in  1775 ;  he  then  moved  to  Gorham  and  had  a  large 
farm,  and  built  a  large  house,  in  1771.  He  married  Tabi- 
tha  Longfellow,  a  sister  of  Judge  Longfellow ;  they  had 
three  sons — Samuel,  Stephen,  and  William  ;  and  two  daugh- 
ter— Catherine  and  Tabitha.  Capt.  John  Stephenson  died 
Dec.  6, 1817,  aged  76  years  ;  his  wife,  Tabitha,  died  May  23, 


208  HISTORY     OF   GORHAM. 

1817,  aged  62  years.  Col.  Samuel  Stej)lienson,  son  of  John, 
married  Abigail  Longfellow  ;  tliey  had  three  sons — ^John, 
Samuel  L.,  and  Stephen  L. ;  and  six  daughters — Ehzabeth, 
Almira  S.,  Ann  L.,  Mary  L.,  Catherine  L.,  and  Abigail  C. 
They  have  all  deceased  except  Abigail  C.  and  Stephen  L. 
Col.  Samuel  Stephenson  died  in  Gorham  May  23,  1858, 
aged  85  years  ;  his  venerable  widow  is  yet  living  at  an  ad- 
vanced age.  Capt.  Stephen  Stephenson  was  master  of  a 
vessel  for  many  years.  He  resided  in  his  latter  days  on  the 
farm  where  his  father  lived  and  died  ;  he  had  a  large  family 
of  sons,  who  have  left  town,  and  some  of  them  reside  in 
New  York,  being  industrious  and  useful  men  and  respec- 
table merchants.  Capt.  Stephen's  davighter,  Harriet,  mar- 
ried George  Motley,  Esq.,  of  Lowell.  Capt.  John's  young- 
est son,  William,  died  in  Brooklyn,  New  York.  Tabitha 
Stephenson,  daughter  of  John,  married  Jacob  S.  Smith, 
Esq. ;  her  elder  sister,  Catherine,  wife  of  Ebenezer  Storer, 
Esq.,  died  in  1850,  aged  76  years. 


STONE. 


Jonathan  Stone  married  Damaris  Elder.  They  had  eight 
children  —  Jonathan,  William,  Damaris,  Solomon,  Arche- 
laus,  Anna,  Miriam  and  Eunice,  born  between  1782  and 
1799. 


STEOUT. 


George  Strout  and  Rebecca,  his  wife,  had  six  children,  the 
eldest  born  in  1763  ;  his  youngest  son,  George,  was  born 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES.  209 

April  9,  1780,  and  died  in  1837.     He  was  one  of  the  Se- 
lectmen of  Gorliam  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

Elisha  Strout  married  Eunice  Freeman ;  they  had  six 
children  born  between  1764  and  1778  —  Simeon,  Susanna, 
Eunice,  Dorcas,  Elisha  and  Solomon. 


STEWART. 

Wentworth  Stewart  emigrated  from  Truro,  Cape  Cod. 
He  married  Susanna  Lombard,  sister  of  the  Hon.  Solomon 
Lombard  ;  they  had  ten  children — Mary,  born  January  20, 
1754 ;  Susanna,  May  21,  1757 ;  Joseph,  April  3,  1759  ; 
Solomon  L.,  February  13,  1762 ;  Sarah  P.,  June  28, 1764  ; 
Dorcas,  June  8,  1766  ;  Susanna,  April  1,  1768 ;  Went- 
worth, August  17,  1770 ;  Solomon  L.,  February  24,  1773, 
and  Anna,  October  31,  1775.  Mr.  Stewart  represented 
the  town  of  Gorham  in  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts 
in  1773—4 ;  he  was  an  officer  in  the  Revolutionary  army, 
and  died  of  the  small  pox,  April  17,  1776,  at  Sewall's  Point 
near  Boston. 


STURGES. 

Jonathan  Sturges  and  his  wife.  Temperance,  came  from 
Barnstable,  Mass.,  about  1769,  and  settled  on  the  farm 
where  his  grandson,  David  Sturges,  now  lives ;  their  first 
two  children  were  born  in  Barnstable — Hannah,  in  1766; 
Temperance,  in  1768.  They  had  eight  children  born  in 
Gorham,  viz:  —  James,  1770  ;  Nathaniel,  1774;  Abigail, 
1776 ;  David,  1779  ;  Joseph,  1783  ;  Sarah,  1785  ;  Jona- 
27 


210  HISTORY     OF   GORHAM. 

than,  1788,  and  Ebenezer,  1790.  Jonathan  Sturges  died 
May  11,  1834,  aged  91  years,  leaving  numerous  descend- 
ants. 


SWETT 


Doctor  Stephen  Swett  came  from  North  Hampton.  He 
was  the  first  physician  that  settled  in  Gorham.  He  came 
in  1770.  He  entered  the  Continental  army  as  Surgeon  to 
Col.  Phinney's  Regiment.  Dr.  Swett  was  patriotic,  and 
possessed  great  energy.  He  had  children  born  before  he 
moved  here,  and  six  more  born  in  this  town. 

Capt.  Joshua  Swett  was  in  the  army  of  the  Revolution, 
and  a  United  States  pensioner  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He 
had  thirteen  children  —  Clark,  David,  Eliza,  John,  Simeon, 
Mary  B.,  Hale,  Sophia,  William,  Emore,  Jesse,  Rebecca, 
and  Joshua.  Capt.  Swett  lived  near  Factory  village,  and 
died  there  in  1851,  aged  90  years  ;  he  was  the  last  survivor 
of  our  Revolutionary  soldiers. 


THACHEE. 

On  pages  66,  67,  68,  I  have  given  some  account  of  Rev. 
Josiah  Thacher's  ministerial  and  political  life  in  this  town. 
His  wife's  name  was  Apphia,  they  had  ten  children — 1. 
Peter,  born  July  13,  1769  ;  2.  Apphia,  Aug.  19,  1770  ;  3. 
Peter,  Aug.  5,  1771 ;  4.  Apphia,  March  23,  1773 ;  5.  Pe- 
ter, July  21,  1774 ;  6.  Mary,  May  8,  1776  ;  7.  Faith,  Oct. 
30,  1778  ;  8.  John,  Feb.  18,  1781  ;  9.  Apphia,  April  7, 
1785  ;  10.  Josiah,  Jan.  21,  1789.     Seven  of  these  children 


BIOGRAPHICAL   NOTICES.  211 

died  in  infancy  ;  John  died  a  young  man  ;  the  third  Peter 
studied  law  with  William  Symmes,  of  Portland,  and  prac- 
ticed at  Saccarappa  ;  he  bequeathed  $2000,  the  interest  of 
which  was  to  be  annually  appropriated  toward  the  support 
of  a  grammar  school  in  that  village.  Peter  died  without 
issue.  The  third  Apphia  married  Rev.  Reuben  Nason,  the 
first  Preceptor  of  Gorham  Academy.  Mrs.  Nason  left  a 
daughter,  Apphia,  who  died  young. 

Hon.  Josiah  Thacher  had  a  taste  for  agriculture  and  gar- 
dening. He  had,  in  his  day,  the  best  fruit  orchard  in  town. 
The  house  he  built,  and  where  he  lived  and  died,  is  now 
standing  in  the  village,  nearly  opposite  the  Congregational 
church,  at  the  corner  of  High  and  School  Streets.  It  is 
owned  by  the  heirs  of  Alexander  McLellan,  Esq.,  and  Gapt. 
Robert  Johnson. 


THOMAS, 

Tufts  Thomas  became  a  citizen  here  about  1770  ;  he  had 
four  sons — James,  born  1771  ;  John,  1772  ;  William,  1774, 
and  Isaac,  1777. 

William  Thomas,  the  son  of  Tufts,  had  five  children  — 
Betsey,  Merrill,  Eliza,  Samuel  F.  and  Sarah  L.  Merrill. 
Merrill  Thomas,  son  of  William,  born  in  1801,  was  for  sev- 
eral years,  one  of  our  Selectmen.  William  Thomas  died 
Feb.  25,  1860,  aged  86  years. 


THOMES. 


There  was  a  Thomas  Thomes  died  in  Gorham  in  1790 ; 
his  wife,  Mary,  died  in  1786.     It  is  presumed  they  were  the 


212  HISTORY    OP   GORHAM. 

parents  of  Charles  Thomes,  who  lived  at  Fort  Hill,  and 
died  there  in  1833,  aged  83  years.  Charles  was  a  soldier 
of  the  Revolution ;  he  was  discharged  at  Peekskill,  New 
York,  having  no  money  but  depreciated  Continental  bills, 
then  worthless  ;  he  begged  his  food  and  lodging.  He  came 
all  the  way  home  on  foot  and  was  nine  and  a  half  days  per- 
forming the  journey.  Charles  Thomes  married  Anna  Gray  ; 
they  had  ten  children  —  Comfort,  James,  Susanna,  Mary, 
Job,  Hannah,  Martha  C,  Stephen,  Joseph,  and  a  second 
Mary.  George  Thomes  lived  here  in  1780  ;  his  wife  was 
Lydia  Brown ;  their  children  were  Betty,  Ezra,  Mary, 
William,  Amos,  Eunice,  Mehitable,  Lydia,  Nancy — all  born 
before  1800.  Mr.  George  Thomes  died  in  1821,  aged  76 
years. 


TYNG 


Hon.  William  Tyng,  the  only  man  of  the  name,  as  far  as 
I  can  learn,  that  ever  lived  in  Gorham,  was  born  in  Boston 
in  1737.  "  Col.  Tyng  was  a  descendant  in  the  fifth  gener- 
ation from  George  Cleeves,  the  first  settler  in  Portland." 
When  young  he  traded  in  Boston.  In  1767  he  was  ap- 
pointed Sheriff  of  Cumberland  County,  Maine,  and  estab- 
lished his  residence  in  Portland.  In  1769,  he  married  Eliza- 
beth Eoss,  daughter  of  Alexander  Ross.  She  was  born  in 
South  Ronaldsha,  one  of  the  Shetland  Isles,  and  was  two 
years  old  when  her  parents  emigrated  to  America.  Sheriff 
Tyng  espoused  the  Royal  side,  in  the  contest  with  Great 
Britain.  He  was  commissioned  a  Colonel  by  Gov.  Gage  in 
1774.  He  became  a  confirmed  tory,  and  had  to  flee  the 
country  in  1778.  He  went  to  New  York  and  remained  in 
the  British  army.     His  extensive  property  in  Portland  was 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES.  213 

confiscated.     While  in  New  York  he  exerted  himself  suc- 
cessfully to  better  the  condition  of  the  American  prisoners. 
Some  of  our  Gorham  soldiers  received  food  and  clothing 
from  Col.  Tyng,  when  they  were  in  a  state  of  great  desti- 
tution.    At  the  close  of  the  war  he  went  to  Nova  Scotia, 
and  was  there  appointed  Chief  Justice  of  the  Court  of  Com- 
mon Pleas.     In  1793,  Col.  Tyng  returned  to  the  United 
States,  and  settled  on  his  wife's  land  in  Gorham,  in  the 
easterly  part  of  the  town.     He  erected  a  large  and  commo- 
dious house,  and  there  lived  in  easy  circumstances,  in  quiet 
retirement,  taking  no  part  in  political  life,  receiving  a  pen- 
sion from  the  British  government.     He  was  a  dignified  gen- 
tleman, but  an  urbane  and  kind  neighbor  and  townsman. 
He  was  beloved  and  respected ;  he  never  had  any  children. 
He  died  Dec.  10,  1807,  a  little  more  than  70  years  of  age. 
The  Tyng  name  is  now  extinct.     Mrs.  Tyng  was  a  refined 
and  hospitable  lady.     She  was  a  decided  loyalist,  and  never 
could  forgive  Washington  and  his  compatriots  for  being 
rebels  to  their  most  gracious  sovereign,  George  HI.     The 
English  government  continued  a  pension  to  Madam  Tyng 
during  her  life.     She  had  no  child  of  her  own,  but  adopted 
a  Scottish  niece,  whose  name  was  Eliza  Heddle,  who  be- 
came the  wife  of  Rev.  Timothy  Hilliard ;  they  had  two  sons 
and  four  daughters.     The  sons,  WiUiam  Tyng  Hilliard  and 
John  Heddle  Hilliard,  both  of  whom  graduated  at  Bowdoin 
College,  and  are  now  respectable  counselors  at  law  in  Bangor 
and  Oldtown  in  this  State.     Mrs.  Tyng  died  at  Gorham  in 
1831,  aged  81  years. 


WARKEN. 

James  Warren  and  Samuel  Warren  became  citizens  about 
1775.     James  married  Martha  McLellan.     Their  children 


214  HISTOKY   OF   GORHAM. 

were  Samuel,  Hugh,  James,  Alexander,  and  Martha.  Sam- 
uel Warren  had  six  children  — James,  Sarah,  Mary,  Samuel, 
Sophia,  and  David.  David  was  born  April  22,  1796.  He 
now  lives  in  town.  There  was  a  Nathaniel  Warren  lived 
here  and  had  a  son,  John,  born  October  12,  1786. 


WATEKHOUSE. 

George  Waterhouse  married  Dorcas  Libby  and  had  nine 
children  —  PoUy,  Joseph,  George,  Charlotte,  Betsey,  Isaac, 
David,  Simon  and  Sally. 

Joseph  Waterhouse  had  three  children  —  Olley,  Zebulon, 
and  Benjamin. 


WATSON. 

Eliphalet  Watson  was  one  of  the  first  inhabitants  of  this 
town ;  he  married  Elizabeth,  the  eldest  daughter  of  Capt. 
John  Phinney,  the  first  settler.  They  had  ten  children, 
viz :  —  John,  born  September  23,  1741,  Martha,  December 
4,  1743,  Susanna,  February  1,  1746,  Ebenezer,  September 
28,  1748,  Colman,  December  4,  1751,  Elizabeth,  February 
11, 1753,  Mary,  July  12, 1756,  Eliphalet,  March  20,  1759, 
James,  August  3, 1761,  and  Daniel,  October  11, 1763.  Mr. 
Watson  was  one  of  the  families  that  moved  into  the  fort 
early  in  1746,  and  they  remained  there  during  the  Indian 
war.  Some  of  his  children  were  born  in  the  garrison.  Mr. 
Watson's  farm  lay  directly  west  of  Hugh  McLellan's,  and 
easterly  of  Austin  Alden's,  about  half  a  mile  from  the  vil- 
lage.    Eliphalet  Watson  was  a  man  very  useful  in  town  and 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES.  215 

church.  He  was  one  of  the  first  deacons  in  the  Congrega- 
tional Church,  in  Gorham  ;  he  was  distinguished  for  sound 
sense,  practical  wisdom,  industry,  prudence,  and  honesty  ; 
he  possessed  firmness  and  courage,  and  was  a  pillar  of 
strength  in  the  new  settlement.  He  attained  the  great  age 
of  98  years. 

John  Watson,  the  eldest  son  of  Deacon  Eliphalet,  married 
Tabitha  Whitney.  They  had  ten  children  —  Mary,  Martha, 
Edmund,  Colman,  IVIiriam,  Tabitha,  Molly,  Sally,  Green- 
leaf  C,  and  Desire  — all  born  between  1775  and  1789.  Mr. 
John  Watson  died  in  1834,  aged  93  years.  Ebenezer  Wat- 
son, second  son  of  Eliphalet,  married  Anna  Whitney,  and 
had  nine  children.  The  youngest  child,  Eliphalet,  was  born 
in  Gray  in  1797,  to  which  place  the  family  had  removed. 
Colman  Phinney,  third  son  of  Eliphalet,  married  Patience 
Thomes,  and  had  Mary,  Stephen  P.,  and  Hannah.  Elipha- 
let Watson,  Jr.,  married  Zipporah  Partridge,  and  had  two 
sons,  Ebenezer  and  Nathaniel  Partridge.  James  married 
Mary  Davis,  and  had  one  daughter.  Daniel  married  Anna 
Maxfield  and  had  four  children  —  Martha,  Josiah,  Hannah, 
and  Daniel. 

Capt.  Greenleaf  C.  Watson,  son  of  John,  and  grandson 
of  the  first  Eliphalet,  is  stiU  living  in  town. 


WEBB. 


Samuel  Webb,  an  Englishman,  the  ancestor  of  aU  the 
Webbs  in  this  vicinity,  emigrated  to  Ehode  Island  in  1713. 
In  1744  he  moved  to  Boston,  and  soon  after  to  Falmouth, 
now  Portland  ;  thence  to  Saccarappa,  and  the  next  year  to 
Windham.  He  was  the  first  schoolmaster  in  Windham ; 
his  wife's  father,  John  Farrar,  being  one  of  the  original 


216  HISTORY   OP   GORHAM. 

erantees  of  Windham.  Eli  Webb,  the  seventh  son  of  Sam- 
uel,  was  born  in  Tiverton,  Khode  Island  —  was  the  first 
Webb  that  settled  in  Gorham,  on  what  is  now  called  the  old 
Webb  farm,  near  the  powder  mills.  Eli's  children  were 
Edward,  Anna,  Lorana,  Mary,  James,  Ezekiel,  Abraham, 
and  Seth.  Eli  Webb  died  in  Gorham,  October,  1827.  His 
wife  died  the  year  previous.  Edward  Webb,  and  his  broth- 
ers were  grandsons,  on  their  mother's  side,  of  Edward 
Cloutman,  who  was  captured  by  the  Indians  in  1746.  Seth 
Webb,  Esq.,  long  one  of  our  townsmen  and  selectmen,  re- 
cently died  at  Knox,  Waldo  County,  aged  86  years.  Ed- 
ward Webb,  son  of  Eli,  married  Sarah  Bolton,  of  Windham. 
Her  father,  William  Bolton,  was  taken  captive  by  the  In- 
dians in  1747.  She  died  in  Gorham  in  1850,  aged  89  years. 
Edward  Webb  was  a  revolutionary  pensioner. 

I  have  now  before  me  the  original  paper,  of  which  the 
following  is  a  copy : — 

«  Falmouth,  March  21,  1758. 

Sir : — We  do  hereby  signify  that  we  are  bound  out  in 
quest  of  the  Indian  Enemy,  on  y®  Province  Encouragement, 
for  Captives  and  Scalps.     Your  humb^  Serv*^ 

Seth  Webb, 
elish'-Webb." 

This  notice,  I  suppose,  was  given  in  order  to  obtain  the 
bounty  offered  by  Massachusetts  for  Indian  scalps.  It  was, 
I  think,  addressed  to  Enoch  Freeman,  Esq.,  because  he  was 
at  that  period  Colonel  of  the  Eastern  Regiment,  and  had  the 
superintendence  of  Indian  Scouts.  This  notice  was  found 
among  the  papers  of  the  late  Judge  Samuel  Freeman.  Sev- 
eral men  went  out  as  scouts  from  this  and  other  towns  in 
the  county ;  usually  four  or  five  men  formed  a  scout,  some- 
times a  larger  number  ;  and  some  men  received  considerable 
sums  as  scalp  money.     Rev.  Thomas  Smith,  first  minister 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES.  217 

settled  in  Portland,  in  his  diary,  published  by  Judge  Free- 
man and  Hon.  William  Willis,  under  date  of  June  18, 1757, 
says  : — "  I  received  X165  and  33s.  of  Cox — my  part  of  scalp 
money. ''^ 


WESCOTT, 

There  are  many  of  this  name  in  town.  Reuben  Wescott 
had  seven  children  born  between  1785  and  1798,  viz : — 
John,  Reuben,  Peggy,  Sally,  Eleanor,  Polly,  and  Betsey. 
Nehemiah  Wescott  married  Eleanor  Nason  ;  they  had  John 
and  Betsey.  James  Wescott  married  Hannah  Morton ; 
they  had  four  children — James,  born  1793  ;  Almira,  1795  ; 
Anna,  1800,  and  Charlotte,  1802. 


WESTON. 

A  hundred  years  ago,  there  were  two  families  of  Wes- 
tons  in  this  town — those  of  Thomas  and  Joseph.  Thomas 
Weston  had  three  daughters — Patience,  Anna,  and  Abagail, 
born  in  1751,  1756,  and  1760.  Joseph  Weston  married 
Catherine  Mosher;  they  had  James,  Joseph,  Zachariah, 
Thomas,  and  Sarah — all  born  before  1768.  Mr.  Joseph 
Weston  died  in  1770.  It  is  a  long  time  since  any  members 
of  these  families  have  lived  in  Gorliam, 
28 


218  HISTORY    OF    GORHAM. 


WHITMORE, 


Capt.  Samuel  Whltmore  was  a  prominent  man  in  town 
previous  to  and  during  the  revolution.  He  was  a  man  of 
great  decision  of  character,  and  executed  promptly  whatever 
he  undertook.  He  was  very  patriotic  and  had  a  strong  dis- 
like of  tories.  It  is  related  that,  about  1774,  there  being 
suspicions  that  Richard  King,  Esq.,  and  a  Dr.  Abiathar 
Alden,  of  Scarborough,  were  tories,  Capt.  Whitmore,  and 
about  forty  more  of  the  ardent  "  Sons  of  Liberty,"  deter- 
mined to  make  Mr.  King  and  Dr.  Alden  take  an  oath  of 
allegiance  to  the  American  cause.  Capt.  Whitmore  and  his 
volunteers  went  to  Scarborough,  and  finding  Alden,  they 
made  him  kneel  on  a  hogshead  and  swear  "  a  recantation 
oath"  ;  thence  proceeding  to  Mr.  King's  house,  they  called 
upon  him  to  declare  his  political  creed,  and  he  read  a  state- 
ment of  his  views  upon  the  troubles  between  the  Colonies 
and  Great  Britain.  Some  of  the  expressions  in  the  state- 
ment not  being  up  to  the  spirit  of  the  Gorham  men,  they 
made  Mr.  King  kneel  down  and  erase  tlie  offensive  words. 
The  act  was  wholly  unauthorized  and  unjustifiable.  It  was 
not  uncommon  in  those  exciting  times  to  compel  men  to  re- 
nounce their  opinions,  and  not  a  few  loyalists  were  even 
tarred  and  feathered.  Civil  war  always  produces  evils  of 
the  kind.  In  our  present  unhappy  civil  strife,  men  are  ar- 
rested and  thrown  into  prison,  oftentimes  without  knowing 
what  they  are  arrested  for,  without  the  forms  of  law  or 
any  investigation ;  printing  presses  are  destroyed,  property 
wasted,  and  other  atrocities  committed  in  the  name  of  pat- 
riotism. 

Capt.  Whitmore  married  Mary  Whitney  and  they  had 
twelve  children — Lydia,  Mary,  Dorcas,  John,  Patience,  Eliz- 
abeth Ross,  two  Samuels,  Joel,  Sarah,  Joanna,  and  Eunice — 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES.  219 

all  born  between  Aug.  5,  1765,  and  June  25,  1788.  Capt. 
Samuel  Whitmore  died  Dec.  21,  1808 — the  same  month  and 
year  that  his  friend  and  military  comrade,  Col.  Edmund 
Phinney,  expired.  Both  did  much  to  promote  and  secure 
our  national  Independence. 

Col.  Samuel  AYhitmore,  Jr.,  son  of  Capt.  Samuel,  was 
born  in  Gorham,  March  26, 1780.  He  was  a  boy,  and  young 
man  of  much  promise.  He  graduated  at  Dartmouth  Col- 
lege in  1802,  with  honors.  He  read  law  with  John  Park 
Little,  Esq.,  of  Gorham,  in  1806 ;  he  opened  an  office  in 
his  native  village  with  a  bright  prospect  of  success.  He 
was  gentlemanly,  and  very  popular ;  he  was  chosen  Colonel 
of  the  regiment  of  militia  in  this  vicinity,  and  was  a  brilliant 
young  officer  as  well  as  lawyer.  The  hopes  and  expecta- 
tions of  his  friends  were  suddenly  extinguished  by  his  early 
death,  which  occurred  Aug.  27,  1808,  about  four  months 
before  his  venerable  father  died. 

There  was  a  Daniel  Whitmore  in  Gorham.  His  wife  was 
Anna  Hill ;  they  had  five  children — Rebecca,  Joseph,  Simon, 
Mary,  and  Hill,  born  between  1783  and  1794. 


WHITNEY. 

There  were  many  inhabitants  of  the  name  of  Whitney 
before  the  revolution.  They  came  from  York,  Maine,  to 
Gorham.  Amos  Whitney  and  Nathan  Whitney  were  prom- 
inent and  influential  men  here  before  the  town  was  incor- 
porated. Amos  Whitney  was  the  first  Town  Clerk  of  Gor- 
ham, and  one  of  the  first  Board  of  Selectmen,  and  was,  for 
many  years,  annually  re-elected.  Amos,  and  Elder  Nathan 
Whitney,  were  both  much  employed  in  the  religious  affairs 
of  the  town.     They  were  many  times  on  important  commit- 


220  HISTORY    OF    GORHAM. 

tees  in  the  lievolutionary  days ;  they  were  sagacious  men, 
and  of  unquestioned  integrity.  There  were  eleven  officers 
and  soldiers  from  Gorham,  of  the  name  of  Whitney,  in  the 
army  of  the  Revolution.  There  were  four  Whitneys  in 
Capt.  Hart  Williams'  company  in  1775.  Paul  Whitney 
was  killed  at  the  battle  on  Rhode  Island.  Isaac  Whitney, 
Stephen  Whitney,  Zebulon  Whitney,  and  Daniel  Whitney, 
were  pensioners  of  the  United  States.  Amos  Whitney  mar- 
ried Sarah  Payne  and  had  three  children  —  Elias,  Jotham, 
and  Ruth.  David  Whitney's  wife  was  Hannah  Brown. 
They  had  seven  children  —  Susanna,  Jesse,  Joshua,  Daniel, 
Hannah,  Thomas,  and  Nathan,  born  between  1755  and  1769. 

Abel  Whitney 

Owen  Whitney 

Asa  Whitney 

Daniel  Whitney 

Uriel  Whitney 

Timothy  Whitney 

Stephen  Whitney 

Micah  Whitney 

Phineas  Whitney 

Zebulon  Whitney, 
Zebulon  married  Joanna  Stone  ; 
Abigail,  Happy,  Mattie,  Rufus,  Eli,  Eunice,  Hannah,  Tab- 
itha,  and  Almira,  born  betwen  1775  and  1798.     EH,  yet 
living,  was  born  August  16,  1786.    , 


had 

10 

children. 

a 

9 

(( 

a 

11 

(( 

a 

10 

a 

a 

6 

u 

a 

5 

a 

a 

2 

a 

a 

4 

a 

a 

4 

a 

a 

9 

a 

e  ; 

their  nine  children  were 

WILLIAMS 


Jeremiah  Williams  married  Deborah  Whitney  ;  they  had 
eight  children — Martha,  Mary,  Peter,  Susanna,  Lydia,  Dan- 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES.  221 

iel,  Joseph,  and    Hannah.     Mrs.   Deborah  Williams    died 
December  16,  1851,  aged  92  years  and  eight  months. 

Capt.  Hart  Williams  was  one  of  our  most  prominent  men 
in  the  early  days  of  the  town.  He  held  many  municipal 
oflSces.  He  commanded  the  first  company  of  soldiers  that 
marched  from  Gorham  to  Cambridge  in  1775 ;  from  there, 
he  marched  to  Ticonderoga  in  Col.  Phinney's  regiment.  He 
was  an  able  and  meritorious  officer.  Capt.  Williams  died 
in  1797. 


YOUNG 


Joshua  Young  and  Joseph  Young,  came  from  Welfleet, 
Mass.,  about  1775.  They  had  families  ;  few,  if  any,  of  the 
name,  now  reside  in  town. 


Note. — In  compiling  the  foregoing  biographical  notices,  I  have  designed 
to  say  nothing  of  families,  the  heads  of  which  came  into  this  town  after  the 
commencement  of  the  present  century.  Nor  have  I  named  all  who  were 
inhabitants  before  that  period  ;  to  have  so  done,  even  if  desirable,  was  not 
practicable.  For  nearly  thirty  years  after  a  settlement  was  commenced, 
there  were  no  records  of  births,  deaths,  or  marriages,  except  such  as  were 
made  in  private  family  memoranda.  After  the  incorporation  of  the  town 
in  1764,  many  families  took  no  pains  to  have  their  births  or  deaths  recorded. 
The  old  family  records  that  once  existed,  are  no  longer  to  be  found.  Much 
labor  and  research  have  been  taken  to  have  this  Mstorical  work  accurate, 
and  though  not  by  any  means  full  or  perfect,  I  trust  it  may  preserve  many 
facts  and  data  that  may  prove  useful,  and  be  of  local  interest. 


APPENDIX. 


A. 


A  LIST  OF  THE   NARRAGANSETT  GRANTEES. 


BARNSTABLE. 


Mary  Dovenour, 
Jacob  Hinkley, 
Jolin  Carman, 
George  Lewis, 
John  Hathaway, 
Joseph  Higgins, 
Samuel  Bryant, 
Richard  ElUngham, 
Samuel  Childs, 
Samuel  Barman, 
Samuel  Linnell, 
Dr.  Matthew  FuUer,^ 
Samuel  Fuller, 
Thomas  Fuller, 
Increase  Clap, 
Joseph  Taylor, 
John  Doncan, 
Bartholomew  Hamblin, 
Eleazer  Hamblin, 
Thomas  Huckins, 


John  Phinney, 
Joseph  Bearce, 
Samuel  Hinkley, 
Samuel  Allyn, 
Samuel  Davis, 
John  Lewis'  Heirs, 
Caleb  Lombard, 
Joseph  Gorham, 
Josiah  Davis, 
Ebenezer  Goodspeed, 
Ebenezer  Clap, 
Lot  Conant,     / 
Jedediah  Lombard, 
Samuel  Cops, 
Joseph  Blush,  (or  Blish,) 
John  Howland,      ,-- 
John  Clarke, 
Shubael  Gorham,  Jr., 
Joseph  Crocker, 
John  Goodspeed. 


224 


APPENDIX. 


YARMOUTH. 


Samuel  Barker,  (or  Baker,) 

Eichard  Taylor, 

William  Gray, 

WiUiam  Chase, 

Capt.  John  Gorham, 

Thomas  Baxter, 

John  Thatcher, 

John  Hallitt, 

John  Matthews, 

Thomas  Thorton, 

William  Gray, 

Samuel  Hall, 

James  Maker, 

James  Claghorn, 

Joseph  Hall, 

Samuel  Hedge, 

Nathaniel  Hall, 

Joseph  Whilden, 

Samuel  Thomas, 

William  Baker. 


Jonathan  Smith, 
Samuel  Jones, 
Richard  Taylor, 
Thomas  Felton, 
John  Gage, 
William  Follen, 
William  Gage, 
Ananias  Wing, 
John  Crowell, 
John  Chase, 
Henry  Golds, 
Richard  Lake, 
Jabez  Gorham, 
Henry  Gage, 
Telverton  Crowell, 
John  Pugsley, 
Daniel  Baker, 
Jonathan  White, 
Samuel  Baker, 


EASTH  AM, 


Timothy  Cole, 
Jeremiah  Smith, 
Jonathan  Green, 
Joseph  and  Samuel  Doane, 
Thomas  Paine, 
Jedediah  Higgins, 
Eliakim  Higgins, 
Joseph  Downings, 
Benjamin  Downings, 
John  Freeman, 
Jonathan  Sparrow, 


John  Knowles, 
Samuel  Atkins, 
John  Doan, 
Thomas  Midford, 
Daniel  Doan, 
John  Walker, 
John  Myi-ick, 
Nathaniel  Williams, 
Josiah  Cook, 
Joseph  Harding, 
Grcorge  Brown, 


APPENDIX.  225 


SANDWICH 


Jonathan  Morrey,  Samuel  Gibbs, 

Samuel  Toby,  for  his  uncle,  John  Lewis, 

Nathaniel  Wing,  James  Atkins, 

Jehosaphat  Eldridge. 


PLYMOUTH. 

William  Ring,  Peter  Tinkman, 

Thomas  Savery. 


DUXBURY. 

Robert  Barker,  Stephen  Sampson, 

Robert  Sandford,  Thomas  Hunt, 

Thomas  Bonney,  Thomas  Standish. 


TiSBUBY — Jonathan  Lombard.  Abington — William  Harrage. 

SciTUATE — Timothy  White. 


The  present  inhabitants  of  Gorham  know  but  Uttle  of  the  brave  men, 
who  purchased,  by  their  sufleriugs  and  heroic  deeds,  the  fertile  lands  we 
now  possess.  Not  all  of  the  foregoing  named  grantees  were  in  the  Narra- 
gansett  fight  —  many  of  them,  were  the  sons,  brothers,  and  more  distant 
connections  of  the  soldiers  and  officers.  Conflicting  claims,  were  present- 
ed, by  heirs  and  legal  representatives ;  to  settle  those  rights,  the  Commit- 
tee of  the  grantees  had  recourse  to  the  Governor  and  Council  of  Massa- 
chusetts, as  appears  by  the  following  petition  : — 

"  To  his  Excellency,  Jonathan  Belcher,  Esq.,  Captain  General,  and  Com- 
mander in  Chief,  in  and  over  Ms  Majesty's  Province  of  the  Massachusetts 
Bay  of  New  England,  &c.  To  the  Hono'''«  the  Council  and  Representa- 
tives now  sitting,  April  7,  1741,  humbly  sheweth  Shubal  Gorham  Esef.  in 

29 


226  APPENDIX. 

Behalf  of  several  of  his  Neighbors,  aud  at  their  requests,  That  Whereas 
the  General  Court,  sometime  since  made  a  Grant  of  Land  to  the  Soldiers 
of  JSTarragansett  Fight,  so  call'^  &  a  List  of  the  Names  of  such  was  ac- 
cordingly taken ;  But  so  it  was  in  the  jierfecting  or  Taking  said  List,  By 
mistakes  of  the  Clark,  or  Scribers,  the  names  of  some  was  wrong  Entered 
viz:  in  said  List  is  entered  Kichard  Tayler,  alias,  and  Richard  Tayler's 
heirs,  whereas  the  latter  should  have  been  Jn"  Tayler's  heirs,  there  not 
being  two  Eichard  Taylors  in  said  Company,  but  there  was  one  John  Tay- 
lor. And  another  viz  :  Entered  William  Grey,  for  his  Father  Will™'  and 
Will™  Gray's  Heirs ;  There  not  being  two  WUl™  Gray's  in  said  Company, 
but  that  there  was  one  Edward  Gray.  And  another  Entered  Joseph  Cro- 
ker,  whereas  it  should  have  been  Josiah  Crocker.  Your  Memorialists  well 
knowing  their  mistakes  to  be  so,  aud  that  there  was  no  such  person  as  Jo- 
seph Crolver  of  Barnstable  in  said  Company,  and  s'^  service,  But  that  there 
was  Josiah  Crocker  in  said  Company ;  and  that  their  several  heirs  have  car- 
ried on  the  charges  of  Bringing  on  the  settlement,  aud  performed  the  order 
of  Court  Accordingly.  Wherefore  your  memorialist  in  behalf  of  his  Neigh- 
bours, humbly  moves  that  an  order  of  this  Court  may  be  so,  that  the  Names 
of  the  said  Jolm  Tayler,  Edward  Grey  &  Josiah  Crocker,  may  be  entered, 
and  that  their  several  heirs  may  accordingly  Enjoy  the  Wrights  of  their 
said  Ancestors,  and  your  Memorialist  in  their  behalf,  as  in  duty  bound  shall 
pray. 

SHUBAL  GORHAM. 
Ain-il  8, 1741. 

In  the  House  of  Representatives,  April  10, 1741. 
Read  &  ordered  that  y®  prayer  of  The  Petition  be  Granf^-  and  the  mis- 
takes mentioned  are  allowed  to  be  rectified. 

Sent  up  for  Concurrence . 

J.  QUINCY,  Speaker. 

In  Council,  April  10th,  1741. 
Read  and  Concurred.  I.  WILLIARD  Sec'y- 

Consented  to.  J.  BELCHER. 


At  a  Great  &  General  Court  or  Assembly  for  his  Majesty's  Province  of 
the  Massachusetts  Bay,  held  by  adjournment  on  the  10th  of  April,  1734. 

April  18,  1734.  Thomas  Palmer,  Esq.,  from  the  Committy  of  Both 
Houses,  on  the  aflairs  of  settling  the  Towns  Granted  to  the  Narragansett 
Soldiers,  Gave  in  the  following  Report,  viz:  The  Committy,  to  whom  was 
referred  the  Affair  of  the  Narragansett  Claimers,  are  of  Opinion  that  the 


APPENDIX.  227 

Consideration  of  admitting  such  Chiiius,  as  heretofore,  omitted  presenting 
or  proving  their  Claims,  shoiikl  be  referred  to  the  Session  of  tlie  General 
Court  in  May  next,  That  the  True  Interest  &  Meaning  of  the  Grant  made 
of  Land,  to  those,  that  were  in  the  Narragansctt  war,  was  that  the  persons, 
who  were  in  that  war  onlj^  should  be  entitled,  and  if  alive,  whosoever  put 
in  the  Claim,  and  if  deceased,  then  Ms  Legal  Kepresentatives  were  entitled 
to  the  Benefit  Thereby  in  such  way  as  was  Consistent  with  the  Conditions 
and  Limitations  of  Settlement,  &c.,  upon  which  said  Lands  were  Granted, 
and  which  was  never  supposed  a  Deceased  Claimer's  Heir  (in  ordinary 
cases)  could  or  would  receive,  where  they  were  more  than  one,  on  the  Con- 
ditions of  the  Grant.  But  where  there  were  diverse  descendants  of  a  per- 
son, that  had  a  right.  They  would  agree  and  consent  it  should  belong  to 
one  only.  But  whereas  in  some  cases  by  reason  of  an  Evil  Mind,  and  Tur- 
bulent Disposition,  and  in  others  by  reason  of  Minority  there  is  a  Great 
Difficulty.  We  propose  that  it  be  Resolved  and  Ordered,  that  where  the 
person  is  deceased,  who  was  in  the  service,  the  Grant  shall  be  and  Belong 
to  his  Legal  Representatives,  in  the  Following  manner  viz:  That  the 
Eldest  heir  Male  (if  such  there  be,  otherwise  the  Eldest  Female)  if  they 
please,  shall  hold  the  land,  paying  to  the  other  descendants,  or  heirs,  such 
proportionable  part  of  Ten  pounds,  (at  which  we  judge  a  Right  ought  to  be 
valued)  as  such  descendants,  or  heu-s  woiild  be  Entitled  to  in  the  Lands,  if 
such  Lands  descended  according  to  the  Law  of  this  Province,  for  the  settle- 
ment of  Intestate  Estates.  And  also  to  pay  what  Charge  any  of  said  de- 
scendants, may  have  been  at  to  prove  or  bring  forward  such  Claim.  And 
if  any  dispute  shall  happen  about  the  person  and  charge,  the  Settlers  or 
Grantees  in  Each  of  the  Towns  shall  fix  and  settle  it  by  a  major  vote.  The 
Committy  is  further  of  Opinion  that  the  seven  years  for  Settling  the  Town 
Granted  to  the  Narragansett  Claimers,  as  well  the  two  first  as  The  Two 
Last  be  Computed  from  y^  first  day  of  June  next. 
In  the  name,  and  by  the  Order  of  the  Committee. 

THOMAS  PALMER. 
Consented  to.  J.  BELCHER. 


B. 

PUBLIC    OFFICERS. 

Delegates  to  the  Provincial,  Congbess.  — 1774,  Solomon  Lom- 
bard ;  1775-6,  Bryant  Morton;  1777,  Edmund  Phinney;  1779,  Solomon 
Lombard,  to  form  State  Constitution. 


228  APPENDIX. 

While  belonging  to  Massachusetts  the  town  had  four  Judges  of  the  Court 
of  Common  Pleas,  viz:  —  From  1776  to  1781,  Solomon  Lombard;  from 
1784  to  1799,  Josiah  Thacher ;  from  1789  to  1804,  William  Gorham ;  from 
1798  to  1811,  Stephen  Longfellow. 

Judges  of  Probate. — William  Gorham,  from  1782  to  1805  —  twenty- 
three  years.  Since  Maine  became  a  State,  Josiah  Pierce,  1846  to  1856  — 
ten  years. 

Senators  utstder  Massachusetts. — Josiah  Thacher,  Stephen  Long- 
fellow, Lothrop  Lewis,  James  Irish. 

Senators  in  Maine  Legislature. — Josiah  Pierce,  three  years — Pres- 
ident of  the  Senate  1835-6 ;  Charles  Hunt,  two  years ;  James  Mann,  two 
years. 

Hugh  D.  McLellan  was  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Kepresentatiyes  in 

1847-8. 

Executive  Councilors. — Edmund  Mann,  of  Gov.  Dunlap's  Council; 
Toppan  Eobie,  of  Gov.  Kent's  Council  ;  Dominicus  Jordan,  Governors 
Fairfield's  and  Kavenagh's  Council ;  Frederick  Eobie,  of  Gov.  Wash- 
burn's Council. 

Edward  P.  Weston,  Superintendent  of  Common  Schools,  1860-1-2. 

Daniel  C.  Emery  was  Sheriff  of  Cumberland  County  in  1856. 

Edmund  Mann,  and  Jeremiah  Parker,  County  Commissioners. 

John  A.  Waterman,  County  Treasurer,  1857-8. 

James  Mann,  County  Treasurer,  1862. 

Lothrop  Lewis,  James  Irish,  and  Joseph  Adams,  were  delegates  to  the 
Convention  that  formed  the  Constitution  of  Maine. 

Kepresentatiyes  to  the  General  Court  under  Massachu- 
setts.— 1765,  Solomon  Lombard ;  1766,  voted  not  to  send  a  Kepresenta- 
tive ;  1767-68-69,  Solomon  Lombard ;  1770,  voted  not  to  send  a  Representa- 
tive; 1771,  none;  1772,  voted  not  to  send  a  Representative,  on  account  of 
the  poverty  of  the  town ;  1773,  chose  Wentworth  Stewart,  on  condition 
that  he  will  serve  without  any  exiDcnse  to  the  town,  which  Mr.  Stewart 
agreed  to ;  1774,  voted  not  to  send  a  Representative ;  1775,  Briant  Morton ; 
1776,  Caleb  Chase ;  1777,  Briant  Morton,  chosen  in  July,  the  town  having  at 
the  May  meeting  voted  not  to  send  a  Representative ;  1778-79,  Edmund 
Phinney ;  1780,  Solomon  Lombard ;  1781,  voted  not  to  send  a  Representa- 
tive; 1782,  Stephen  Longfellow,  Jr. ;  1783-8^85-86-87,  Josiah  Thacher; 
1788,  Edmund  Phinney;  1789-90-91,  Josiah  Thaclier ;  1792, Stephen  Long- 
fellow and  Josiah  Thacher ;   1793-94,  Stephen  Longfellow ;   1795,  Josiah 


APPENDIX.  229 

Thacher;  1796,  Stephen  Longiellow;  1T97,  Josiah  Thacher;  1798-99  and 
1800,  Stephen  Longfellow ;  1801-2,  Lothrop  Lewis ;  1803,  Lothrop  Lewis, 
chosen  unanimously;  1804-5-6-7,  Lothrop  Lewis;  1808,  Lothrop  Lewis 
and  David  Harding,  Jr. ;  1809,  David  Harding,  Jr.,  and  Dudley  Folsom; 
1810-11-12,  Lothrop  Lewis,  David  Harding,  Jr.,  and  Dudley  Folsom; 
1813-14-15,  James  Codman,  David  Harding,  Jr.,  and  Toppan  Robie;  1816, 
Samuel  Stephenson,  David  Harding,  Jr.,  and  Toppan  Robie ;  1817-18,  Da- 
vid Harding,  Jr. ;  1819-20,  Lothx-op  Lewis,  Toppan  Robie,  and  Joseph 
Adams. 

Representativbs  to  the  Maine  Legislature.  — 1820-21,  James 
Irish,  David  Harding,  Jr.,  and  Toppan  Robie;  1822,  Lothrop  Lewis; 
182.3-24,  Seward  Merrill;  1825,  Samuel  Stephenson;  1826-27-28,  Clark 
Dyer;  1829-30,  Edmund  Mann ;  1831,  Joseph  Hamblen, 3d;  1832-33,  Josiah 
Pierce;  1834-35,  William  E.  Files;  1836-37,  Charles  Hunt;  1838-39,  Caleb 
Hodson ;  1840,  Robert  Johnson,  Jr. ;  1841,  Robert  Motley ;  1842,  Jeremiah 
Parker ;  1843-44,  Daniel  C.  Emery ;  1845,  Jeremiah  Parker ;  1846-47-48, 
Hugh  D.  McLellau;  1849-50,  James  Mann;  1851,  Jonathan  Hanson;  1852, 
no  election — winter  sessions  changed  to  summer ;  1853-54,  Charles  Paine ; 
1855-56,  Jacob  C.  Baker;  1857-58,  Joshua  E.Hall;  1859-60,  Frederick 
Eobie ;  1861-62,  James  Phinney. 


VOTES  nq-  GORHAM  FOR  GOVERNOR  IN  MASSACHUSETTS. 

1780 — John  Hancock,  55 ;  James  Bowdoin,  2. 

1781— John  Hancock,  26. 

1782— John  Hancock,  15. 

1783 — John  Hancock,  33 ;  Benjamin  Lincoln,  20 ;  James  Bowdoin,  1. 

1784 — John  Hancock,  44. 

1785 — Thomas  Cushiug,  53;  Benjamin  Lincoln,  1. 

1786 — James  Bowdoin,  27 ;  Thomas  Cusliing,  19. 

1787— John  Hancock,  103 ;  James  Bowdoin,  6. 

1788— John  Hancock,  94. 

1789— John  Hancock,  116. 

1790— John  Hancock,  90. 

1791— John  Hancock,  98. 

1792— John  Hancock,  81. 

1793— John  Hancock,  87. 

1794— Samuel  Adams,  92 ;  Wm.  Gushing,  3 ;  Elbridge  Gerry,  1. 

1795— Samuel  Adams,  85;  Elbridge  Gerry,  4;  Wm.  Cushing,  1. 


280  APPENDIX. 

1796 — Samuel  Adams,  88 ;  Elbridge  Gerry,  6 ;  Increase  Sumner,  14. 

1797 — Moses  Gill,  48;  Increase  Sumner,  20;  Elbridge  Gerrj',  1. 

1798 — Increase  Smnner,  81 ;  Moses  Gill,  1. 

1799 — Increase  Sumner,  89;  Moses  Gill,  1. 

1800— Caleb  Strong,  46;  Moses  Gill,  41 ;  Elbridge  Gerry,  41. 

1801— Caleb  Strong,  102;  Elbridge  Gerry,  41. 

1802— Caleb  Strong,  105 ;  Elbridge  Gerry,  27. 

1803— Caleb  Strong,  137. 

1804— Caleb  Strong,  162;  James  Sullivan,  63. 

1805— Caleb  Strong,  164;  James  Sullivan,  90. 

1806— Caleb  Strong,  194 ;  James  Sullivan,  99. 

1807— Caleb  Strong,  158 ;  James  Sidlivan,  126. 

1808— Christopher  Gore,  257 ;  James  Sullivan,  58. 

1809— Christopher  Gore,  230 ;  Levi  Lincoln,  90. 

1810— Christopher  Gore,  244;  Elbridge  Gerry,  114. 

1811— Christopher  Gore,  176 ;  Elbridge  Gerry,  99. 

1812— Caleb  Strong,  284;  Elbridge  Gerry,  115. 

1813— Caleb  Strong,  291 ;  Joseph  B.  Varnum,  88. 

1814— Caleb  Strong,  311 ;  Samuel  Dexter,  92. 

1815— Caleb  Strong,  259 ;  Samuel  Dexter,  139. 

1816— John' Brooks,  257;  Samuel  Dexter,  112. 

1817— John  Brooks,  203 ;  Henry  Dearborn,  79. 

1818 — John  Brooks,  173;  Benjamin  Crowningshield,  99. 

1819— John  Brooks,  191 ;  B.  W.  Crowningshield,  116. 


VOTES  FOR  GOVERNOR  AFTER  MAINE  BECAME  A  STATE. 

1820— William  King,  223;  Scattering,  10. 

1821— Ezekiel  Whitman,  138;  Albion  K.  Paris,  92. 

1822— Ezekiel  Whitman,  87;  A.  K.  Paris,  71. 

1823— A.  K.  Paris,  108. 

1824— A.  K.  Paris,  129. 

1825— A.  K.  Paris,  137;  Enoch  Lincoln,  11. 

1826— Enoch  Lincoln,  275 ;  Scattering.  1. 

1827— Enoch  Lincoln,  135. 

1828 — Enoch  Lincoln,  357 ;  Scattering,  16. 

1829— Samuel  E.  Smith,  218;  Jonathan  G.  Hunton,  211. 

1830— Jonathan  G.  Hunton,  283 ;  Samuel  E.  Smith,  269. 

1831— Samuel  E.  Smith,  256 ;  Daniel  Goodenow,  254. 

1832— Samuel  E.  Smith,  279;  Daniel  Goodenow,  272. 


APPENDIX.  231 

1833— Robert  P.  Dunlap,  257 ;  Daniel  Goodenow,  256. 

1834— Robert  P.  Dimlap,  298 ;  Peleg  Sprague,  281, 

1835— Robert  P.  Duiilap,  252 ;  William  King,  200. 

1836— Robert  P.  Dimlap,  256 ;  Edward  Kent,  201. 

1837— Edward  Kent,  291 ;  Gorham  Parks,  268. 

1838— Edward  Kent,  343;  John  Fairfield,  297. 

1839— Edward  Kent,  308;  John  Fairfield,  308. 

1840— Edward  Kent,  35G;  John  Fairfield,  287. 

1841— Edward  Kent,  — ;  John  Fairfield,  285. 

1842— John  Fairfield,  276 ;  Edward  Robinson,  240. 

1843 — Hugh  J.  Anderson,  238;  Edw.  Robinson,  129;  Jas.  Apple  ton,  .31. 

1844— H.  J.  Anderson,  298 ;  Edward  Robinson,  272. 

1845 — H.  J.  Anderson,  214 ;  Freeman  H.  Morse,  146 ;  Sam'l  Fessenden,  42. 

1846— John  W.  Dana,  225 ;  Da\id  Bronson,  166 ;  Sam'l  Fessenden,  60. 

1847 — -John  W.  Dana,  167 ;  David  Bronson,  108 ;  Sam'l  Fessenden,  27. 

184S^John  W.  Dana,  222;  E.  L.  Hamlin,  164;  Sam'l  Fessenden,  124. 

1849-^ohn  Hubbard,  228;  E.  L.  Hamlin,  140;  G.  F.  Talbot,  104. 

1850— John  Hubbard,  238;  Wm.  G.  Crosby,  204;  G.  F.  Talbot,  86. 

1851 — No  election. 

1852— John  Hubbard,  243 ;  A.  G.  Chandler,  168 ;  Wm.  G.  Crosby,  150. 

1853— Albert  Pilsbury,  190;  W.  G.  Crosby,  189 ;  A.  P.  Morrill,  92;  E. 
Holmes,  73. 

1854— A.  P.  Morrill,  268;  A.  K.  Paris,  241 ;  Isaac  Reed,  47;  S.  Gary,  G. 

1855— A.  P.  Morrill,  327 ;  Samuel  Wells,  329 ;  Isaac  Reed,  20. 

1856— Hannibal  Hamlin,  415 ;  Sam'l  Wells,  291 ;  G.  F.  Patten,  23. 

1857— Lot  M.  Morrill,  .366 ;  M.  H.  Smith,  246. 

1858— Lot  M.  Morrill,  383 ;  M.  H.  Smith,  310. 

1859— Lot  M.  Morrill,  383 ;  M.  H.  Smith,  255. 

1860— Israel  Washburn,  Jr.,  438 ;  E.  K.  Smart,  315 ;  Phinehas  Barnes,  5. 

1861— Israel  Washburn,  Jr.,  381 ;  John  W.  Dana,  187 :  Charles  D.  Jame- 
son, 56. 


TOWN    CLERKS. 

1764  to  1769,  inclusive — Amos  'Whitney,  six  years. 
1770-71 — Wentworth  Stuart,  two  years. 
1772 — Amos  "Wliitney,  one  year. 
1773-74-75 — William  Gorham,  three  years. 
1776-77— Caleb  Chase,  two  years. 
1778-1804 — Aiisten  Alden,  twenty-six  years. 


232  APPENDIX. 

1804-1815 — Josiali  Alden,  eleven  years. 
1815-1832 — William  H.  Foster,  seventeen  years. 
1833-34-35-36— William  B.  Harding,  four  years. 
1837-38 — Eben  Preble,  two  years. 
1839-40-41 — Kussell  Linnell,  tliree  years. 
1842 — Charles  C.  Bangs,  one  year. 
1843-44 — Eben  Preble,  two  years. 
1845 — Kussell  Linnell,  one  year. 
1846-47-48 — ^William  B.  Harding,  three  years. 
1849-50-51 — John  Wingate,  three  years. 
1852-53 — William  B.  Harding,  two  years. 
1854 — James  W.  Davis,  one  year. 
1855-56-57 — Samuel  F.  Bacon,  three  years. 
1858-59-60— E.  W.  Nevins,  three  years. 
1861-62— M.  G.  Hayden,  two  years. 


SELECTMEN. 

1765 — Benjamin  Skillings,  Amos  Whitney,  Joseph  Weston. 
"      Benjamin  Skillings,  Amos  Whitney,  Briant  Morton. 
1766-67 — Benjamin  Skillings,  Amos  Whitney,  Edmund  Phiuney. 
1768 — Hugh  McLellan,  Edmund  Phinney,  Joseph  Cates, 
1769 — Edmund  Phinney,  Amos  Whitney,  James  Gilkey. 
1770-71 — Edmund  Phinney,  James  Gilkey,  Barnabas  Bangs. 
1772 — Solomon  Lombard,  Edmund  Phinney,  Nathan  Whitney. 
1773 — Edmund  Phirmey,  James  Gilkey,  Samuel  Whitmore. 
1774 — Benjamin  Skillings,  Nathan  Whitney,  Prince  Davis. 
1775 — Edmund  Phinney,  Prince  Davis,  William  McLellan. 
1776 — William  Gorham,  Prince  Davis,  James  Phinney. 
1777-78 — James  Phinney,  Andrew  Crockett,  Sainuel  Harding. 
1779 — James  Phinney,  James  Gilkey,  Andrew  Crockett. 
1780 — James  Gilkey,  Andrew  Crockett,  William  Cotton. 
1781 — Edmund  Phinney,  William  Gorham,  Stei)hen  Longfellow,  Jr. 
1782 — Edmund  Phinney,  Stephen  Longfellow,  Jr.,  William  McLellan. 
1783 — James  Phinney,  Prince  Davis,  William  McLellan. 
1784 — James  Phmney,  Stephen  Longfellow,  Jr.,  Austen  Alden. 
1785 — Stephen  Longfellow,  Jr.,  James  Phinney,  Cary  McLellan. 
1786 — Stephen  Longfellow,  Jr.,  James  Phinney,  Austen  Alden. 
1787 — Stephen  Longfellow,  Jr.,  Austen  Alden,  Decker  Phinney. 
1788 — Austen  Alden,  Decker  Phinney,  Nathaniel  Frost. 


APPENDIX.  233 

1789-90-91— Stephen  Longfellow,  Jr.,  Samuel  Elder,  James  Phinney. 
1792-93 — Stephen  Longfellow,  Jr.,  James  Phinney,  Decker  Phinney. 
1794-95 — Stephen  Longfellow,  Decker  Phinney,  Josiah  Alden. 
1796-97-98-99— Lothrop  Lewis,  Decker  Phinney,  Josiah  Alden. 
1800 — Lothrop  Lewis,  Josiah  Alden,  Samuel  Warren. 

J.  Alden  excused,  and  Samuel  Prentiss  elected. 
1801-2-3-4 — Lothrop  Lewis,  Samuel  Warren,  Decker  Phinney. 
1805-6-7-8-9-10— Lothrop  Lewis,  Samuel  Warren,  Edmund  Phinney,  Jr. 
1811 — Lothrop  Lewis,  Edmund  Phinney,  Jr.,  Thomas  McLellan. 
1812-13-14 — Lothrop  Lewis,  Edmund  Phinney,  Ji'.,  David  Harding,  Jr. 
1815 — Toppan  Robie,  William  McLellan,  Samuel  Warren. 
1816-17 — Lothrop  Lewis,  William  McLellan,  Toppan  Robie. 
1818 — Toppan  Robie,  Da\id  Harding,  Jr.,  Edmund  Wescott. 
1819 — David  Harding,  Jr.,  Toppan  Robie,  Matthew  Johnson. 
1820— Lothrop  Lewis,  James  Irish,  William  Cobb. 
1821 — Lothrop  Lewis,  William  Cobb,  Nathaniel  Phinney. 
1822 — Lothrop  Lewis,  Nathaniel  Phinney,  Seward  Merrill. 
1823 — ^Nathaniel  Phinney,  Toppan  Robie,  Simon  Elder. 
1824— Seth  Webb,  Toppan  Robie,  Simon  Elder. 
1825 — Edmund  Mann,  David  Harding,  Jr.,  Simon  Elder. 
1826— Edmund  Mann,  Seward  Merrill,  Seth  Webb. 
1827 — Edmund  Maun,  Seward  Merrill,  Samuel  Staples,  Jr. 
1828— Edmund  Mann,  Seward  Merrill,  Levi  Hall. 
1829 — Edmund  Mann,  Seward  Merrill,  James  Irish. 
1830 — Edmund  Mann,  Joseph  Hamilton,  3d,  Benjamin  Skillings. 
1831— Edmund  Maun,  Clark  Swett,  Robert  Johnson,  3d. 
1832— Seward  Merrill,  William  Silla,  Robert  Johnson,  3d. 
1833— Seward  Merrill,  William  Silla,  Daniel  C.  Emery. 
1834— Edmund  Mann,  William  Silla,  Toppan  Robie. 
183.5 — Toppan  Robie,  Benjamin  Skilliugs,  Daniel  C.  Emery. 
1836 — Daniel  C.  Emery,  George  Strout,  Josiah  L.  Swett. 

George  Strout  resigned. 
1837 — Josiah  Pierce,  Joshua  L.  Swett,  Benjamin  Skillings. 
1838 — Josiah  Pierce,  Joshua  L.  Swett,  William  E.  Files. 
1839 — Benjamin  Skilliugs,  Simon  Elder,  Charles  O.  Libby. 
1840 — Benjamin  Skillings,  Simon  Elder,  Charles  O.  Libby. 
1841.— -Edward  Scamman,  John  Sturgis,  Charles  O.  Libby. 
1842 — Hugh  D.  McLellan,  Simeon  C.  Clements,  Joseph  W.  Parker. 
1843— Hugh  D.  McLellan,  Jacob  H.  Clements,  Joseph  W.  Parker. 
1844 — Hugh  D.  McLellan,  Jacob  H.  Clements,  Joseph  W.  Parker. 
1845 — Jonathan  Hanson,  John  Sturgis,  Edward  Scamman. 
1846 — John  Wingate,  William  Warren,  Robert  Johnson,  3d. 
1847— John  Wingate,  William  Warren,  Daniel  C.  Emery. 
30 


234 


APPENDIX. 


1848— Daniel  C.  Emery,  Merrill  Thomas,  Joseph  M.  Plummer. 
1849— Merrill  Thomas,  Charles  Paine,  Joseph  M.  Plummer. 
1850— Merrill  Thomas,  Charles  Paine,  Joseph  M.  Plummer. 
1851 — Merrill  Thomas,  Charles  Paine,  Daniel  Hall. 
1852 — Merrill  Thomas,  Charles  Paine,  Freeman  Harding. 
1853 — Freeman  Harding,  William  Merrill,  Jr.,  Theopliilus  Dame. 
1854 — Edward  Scamman,  Daniel  C.  Libhy,  Joshua  E.  Hall. 
1855 — Edward  Scamman,  Freeman  Harding,  Joshua  E.  Hall. 
1856 — Edward  Scamman,  James  Phinney,  Jr.,  Joshua  E.  Hall. 
1857-58 — James  Phinney,  Jr.,  Charles  Moulton,  Zebulon  Whitney. 
1859— Marshall  Irish,  Merrill  T.  Files,  William  Burton. 
1860— Merrill  T.  Files,  William  Burton,  Isaac  E.  McLellan. 
1861 — Isaac  E.  McLellan,  Samuel  S.  Waterhouse,  Edwin  Coburn. 
1862 — Edwin  Coburn,  Samuel  S.  Waterhouse,  Moses  Fogg. 


c. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 

VITAL    STATISTICS. 

If  the  length  of  years  to  which  its  citizens  arrive,  be  a  just  criterion  of 
the  healthfidness  of  the  town,  it  will,  by  that  test,  be  found  that  Gorham  is 
a  place  of  great  salubrity ;  and  that,  in  that  respect,  it  will  compare  favor- 
ably with  other  towns  in  New  England.  The  annual  average  of  deaths  for 
the  last  fifty  years,  has  hardly  exceeded  one  per  cent,  of  the  population. 
Many  of  our  first  settlers  and  revolutionary  men  attained  a  great  age. 


Capt.  John  Phinney,  the  first  settler,  died  in  1780, 
His  wife,  Martha,  also  lived  to  be         .        .        - 
Their  son,  Col.  Edmund  Phinney,  died  December,  1808,  " 
John  Phuincy,  Jr.  died  May  3, 1815, 
James  Phinney  died  October  18, 1830, 
Martha  Gorham  Irish,  (Phinney)  died  1825,    - 
Elder  N.Whitney  died  1804,        -        .        .        . 
Susannah  Cobb  died  1804,        .        -        .        . 

Dennis  Larry  died  1807, 

His  wife,  Patience  Larry,  died  1809, 


aged  87  years. 

87      " 

85      " 

(( 

83      "   • 

it 

94      " 

(( 

89      " 

it 

95      " 

it 

95      " 

it 

90      " 

ii 

94      " 

APPENDIX. 


235 


Mr.  J.  Haynes  died  1811,      -----  aged  90  years. 

Mrs.  Stone  died  1812, "  90  " 

Elder  J.  Gates  died  181.3, "  96  " 

Prince  Davis  died  1819, "  96  " 

Kerenliappiicli  Braclcett  died  1821,      -        -        -  -    "  92  " 

Jedediali  Lombard  died  1820,          -        -        -  -        "  92  " 

WiUiam  Files  died  1823, "  95  " 

Catherine  Cloudman  died  March  24, 1832,     -  -        "91  " 

Thomas  Irish  died  August  14, 1832,     -        -        -  -    "  94  years  8  mos. 

Uriah  Nason  died  May  13, 1833,       -        -        -  -        "  91  " 

Hannah  Boss  died  October  19, 1833,    -        -        -  -    "  98  " 

Jonathan  Sturgis  died  May  11, 18.34,        -        -  -        "  91  " 

Jedediah  Cobb  died  August  2, 1833,    -        -        -  -    "  91  " 

James  Mosier  died  October  2, 1834,  -       -       -  -       "  99  years  3  mos. 

John  Watson  died  October  26, 1834,    -        -        -  -    "  93  " 

David  Harding  died  1828, "  97  " 

Deacon  Eliphalet  Watson  died  1828,    -        -        -  -    "  98  " 

Jane  Snow  died  March  5, 1837,        -        -        -  -        "102  " 

AbigaU  Nason  died  March  5, 1837,       -        -        -  -    "  98  " 

Col.  Nathaniel  Frost  died  in  May,  1838,   -        -  -        "  90  " 

Capt.  Nathaniel  Cobb,  died  Sept.  24, 1839,  -        -  -    "  90  " 

Betty  Patrick  died  March  2, 1841,    -        -        -  -        "  90  " 

Nathaniel  Blake  died  February  28, 1843,     -        -  -    "  91  " 

Thomas  Clay  died  January  9, 1846,  -        -        -  -        "  96  " 

Mary  Frost  died  February  14, 1849,    -        -        -  -    "  91  " 

Hannah  Blake  died  February  24, 1849,    -        -  -        "  90  " 

Deborah  Blake  died  February  18, 1850,       -        -  -    "  96  " 

Elkanah  Harding  died  August  27, 1850,  -        -  -        "  91  " 

Capt.  Joshua  Swett  died  April  20, 1851,      -        -  -    "  90  " 

Deborah  Williams  died  December  16, 1851,    -  -        "93  " 

Sarah  Harris  died  March  3, 1852,       -        -        -  -    "  97  " . 

Andrew  Plaisted  died  November  27, 18,55,       -  -        "93  " 

Benjamin  Chamberlain  died  December  25, 1855,  -  -    "  94  " 

Ann  Libby  died  December  28, 1855,         -        -  -        "  93  " 

Daniel  Baker  died  June  10, 1856,        -        -        -  -    "  90  " 

Nancy  Swett  died  October  15, 1858,      -       -  -       "  92  " 

Widow  Sturgis  died  September  9, 1859,       -        -  -    "  92  " 

James  Phmney  died  January  13, 1860,     -        -  -        "  93  " 

PoUy  Hamblen  died  March  7, 1860,    -        -        -  -    "  93  " 

Anna  Harding  died  February  14, 1861,    -        -  -        "  93  " 

Besides  the  foregoing,  there  died  in  Gorham  since  1830,  ninety  other  per- 
sons between  the  ages  of  80  and  90  years. 


236  APPENDIX. 


THE     PRESENT     WAR. 

In  the  present  sad  and  deplorable  civil  war,  the  men  of  Gorham  have  not 
been  heedless  to  the  call  of  their  country.  Company  A  of  the  5th  Regi- 
ment, and  Company  K  of  the  9th  Regiment  of  Maine  Volunteers,  were 
enlisted  in  this  town,  and  were  composed  of  Gorham  men  and  others  from 
towns  in  Maine. 

Company  A,  under  Capt.  Josiah  Heald,  marched  fi*om  Gorham  in  June, 
and  the  Regiment  left  Maine,  June  26,  1861.  Capt.  Heald  and  Company 
were  in  the  disastrous  battle  of  Bull's  Run,  July  21,  1861. 

Capt.  Colman  Harding  marched  from  Gorham  with  his  Company,  K,  of 
the  9th  Regiment,  Sept.  18, 1861.  Capt.  Harding,  on  the  organization  of 
the  Regiment,  was  elected  Lieut.  Col.,  and  Lieut.  Thomas  E.  Wentworth 
was  promoted  to  a  Captaincy.  This  Company  went  to  South  Carolina  and 
assisted  in  the  taking  and  occupying  Hilton  Head. 

For  this  present  war  Gorham  has  furnished  the  foUovvring  commissioned 
officers : — 

CoLMAN  HaPvDING,  Lieut.  Col. 
Frederic  Robie,  Major. 
Edward  A.  Sc Amman,  Major. 
Josi^VH  Heald,  ,Capt. 
Thomas  E.  Wentworth,  Capt. 
Henry  R.  Millett,  " 

William  Merrill,  Lieut. 
John  S.  Merrill,         " 
Chester  B.  Shaw,        " 
Daniel  M.  Phillips,    " 
Stephen  M.  Eaton,      " 
Frederic  Speed,  Adjutant. 
Rev.  John  R.  Adams,  Chaplain  of  5th  Regiment. 
Rev.  Joseph  Coley,  "  12th         " 

Doct.  Seth  C.  Gordon,  Ass.  Surgeon,  1.3th  " 
and  a  large  nmnber  of  non-commissioned  officers,  musicians  and  privates. 


1 


WILD     MEN. 

About  1788,  there  was  a  general  belief  in  Gorham,  that  certain  strange 
men  were  wandering  aljout  this  town,  Scarborough  and  Westbrook.  They 
were  called  "  Wild  men."    Between  the  months  of  July  and  October,  it  is 


APPENDIX.  237 

asserted,  there  were  seen  iii  the  fields  and  In  the  woods,  human  beings 
ragged,  and  having  long  shaggy  hair  and  beards,  picking  berries,  green 
corn  and  peas.  Upon  discovering  any  other  person,  they  would  run  away. 
Sometimes  they  were  seen  going  out  of  barns  early  in  the  morning.  Cows 
were  frequently  found  to  have  been  milked  during  the  night  in  yards.  A 
Miss  Webb,  rising  very  early  one  morning,  said  she  saw  one  of  the  wild 
men  going  out  of  her  father's  yard,  and  one  of  the  cows  had  been  milked. 
Mr.  Barnabas  Bangs  was  looking  for  his  oxen  in  a  pasture  where  there  were 
many  trees  and  bushes,  and  he  came  suddenly  upon  one  of  these  men  sit- 
ting upon  a  log,  eating  a  dead  robin.  Mr.  Bangs  asked  him  why  he  did  not 
go  to  some  house  and  cook  his  bird?  The  fellow  rose,  and  brandishing  a 
large  jack  knife,  replied,  "I  will  let  you  know  the  reason."  Mr.  Bangs, 
being  unarmed,  speedily  left  the  place.  Two  boys,  Ebenezer  Hall  and 
Israel  Hall,  were  one  day  pickmg  blackberries,  and  saw  two  of  these  wild 
persons  coming  towards  them ;  the  boys  being  frightened  concealed  them- 
selves in  the  bushes.  The  boys  said  one  of  them  was  a  woman,  and  that 
they  were  white  people.  It  was  said  that  a  man  in  the  vicinity  of  Brag- 
don's  Mills,  near  the  line  of  Scarborough,  being  one  day  out  in  the  woods 
with  his  gun,  came  upon  one  of  these  men,  who  was  eating  a  yoimg  pigeon. 
The  Scarborough  man  pointed  his  gim  at  him,  and  told  him  he  would  shoot 
him  if  he  did  not  tell  him  who  he  was,  and  from  whence  he  came.  The 
strange  man  said  he  was  one  of  twenty-five  sailors,  the  crew  of  a  large  ves- 
sel that  was  cast  away  on  the  coast.  No  such  shipwreck  was  known  by  our 
citizens  to  have  happened.  Two  brothers,  Abraham  and  Eli  Webb,  were 
one  night  driving  a  team  with  a  load  of  boards  from  Saccarappa  to  Stroud- 
water,  and  they  said  they  had  a  fair  view  of  five  of  the  Wild  men  in  a  field 
by  the  side  of  the  road ;  they  were  picking  green  peas.  It  is  said  that  the 
last  time  these  wild  men  were  seen  was  in  Scarborough,  near  Gorham  and 
Buxton  lines,  when  a  Mr.  Libby  is  said  to  have  counted  fomleen  of  them, 
in  a  grove  of  yoimg  pine  trees.  Not  much  importance  is  to  be  attached,  I 
suppose,  to  the  foregoing  relation,  yet  there  is  no  doubt  that  the  people  of 
Gorham  and  the  adjacent  towns,  fully  believed  that  such  men  were  seen; 
that  they  were  foreigners,  mysterious  persons.  Some  supposed  them  pirates, 
others,  that  they  were  a  company  of  the  Acadians,  or  neutral  French,  who 
had  been  expatriated  from  Nova  Scotia.  But  who  they  were,  where  from, 
or  what  became  of  them,  seems  never  to  have  been  ascertained. 

This  account  was  given  me  in  writing,  some  years  ago,  by  an  aged  and 
intelligent  gentleman  of  Gorham,  who  was  a  boy  of  ten  years  of  age  when 
these  strangers  were  said  to  have  been  seen.  My  informant  fully  believed 
in  the  truth  of  the  story. 


i 

238  APPENDIX. 

On  page  59  mention  has  been  made  of  the  fall  of  a  part  of  the  frame  of 
the  meeting  house,  and  the  killing  of  Doct.  Bowman  and  Mr.  Tryon.  The 
occurrence  produced  a  profound  sensation  in  this  and  neighboring  towns, 
and  was  the  occasion  of  bringing  out  several  poetical  effusions,  or  "  verses," 
as  they  were  called.  Thomas  Shaw,  of  Standish,  wrote  a  ballad.  The  fol- 
lowing lines  were  composed  by  Capt.  Daniel  Eldiidge  of  Gorham.  It  is 
a  specimen  of  the  rustic  rhyming  of  that  day. 


"  They  who  in  morning  meet. 
All  pleasant,  fair  and  gay ; 
They  may  behold  a  dreadfid  scene 
Before  the  close  of  day. 


Unseen  dangers  hang  around 
All  in  our  prosperous  way : 

May  send  oiu'  bodies  to  the  tomb, 
Before  the  close  of  day. 


Great  numbers  went  with  one  consent, 

To  Gorham  did  repair. 
To  rear  a  noble  house  to  God, 

To  preach  and  pray  in  there. 


And  when  the  frame  was  rais-ed  high. 
Great  joy  then  did  abound: 

A  di-eadful  scene  soon  came  to  view. 
One  half  fell  to  the  ground. 


How  shall  I  paint  the  dreadful  scene. 
My  notes  they  are  too  16w, 

For  want  of  skill,  and  not  of  will, 
In  Poetry  to  show. 

6 

What !  must  my  pen  be  silent  then, 
Because  I  can't  command  ? 

No :  I  wiU  trust,  who  am  but  dust, 
The  Lord  shall  guide  my  hand. 


A  brace  gave  way,  that  fatal  day. 

The  Jin  also  did  fall : 
And  men  were  hurl-ed  in  the  air, — 

Not  time  on  God  to  call. 


I 

APPENDIX.  239 


8 


To  hear  the  women's  mournful  cry, 
Would  melt  a  tender  heart ; 

'  Mj'  husband,  son,  or  Mend  is  dead 
And  in  Eternity' 

9 

There  two  did  meet  an  awful  death. 
By  the  rubbish  they  were  slain ; 

While  wounded  men  were  crying  out, 
Distressed  with  grief  and  pain ! 

10 

For  Doctor  Bowman  they  did  cry. 

His  help  they  did  implore, 
But  Bowman  he  had  passed  away, 

Not  to  be  seen  no  more. 


11 


Now  Doctor  Bowman's  loss  we  feel. 
His  usefulness,  no  more ; 

No  more  kind  offices  he'll  do, 
To  help  relieve  the  poor. 

12 

As  he  showed  mercy  here  below, 

Oh !  may  he  mercy  find ; 
And  may  he  join  the  angels'  notes 

In  shining  worlds  on  high. 

13 

Young  Tryon,  in  the  bloom  of  life, 
Did  bow  his  head  and  die — 

Oh  may  his  soul  forever  dwell, 
With  Christ,  the  Lord  on  high. 

14 

To  hear  Mrs.  Tyron's  moumfiil  cry 
Would  melt  a  tender  heart — 

'  My  son  is  wounded,  he  must  die. 
We  must  forever  part.' " 


ERKATA. 

On  page  7, 10th  line  from  top,  read  "  Micaceous"  for  Argillaceous. 
On  page  33,  7th  line  from  bottom,  read  "  1834"  instead  of  1734. 
On  page  69,  4th  line  from  bottom,  read  "  Gaudio"  instead  of  Guadio. 
On  page  97,  10th  line  from  bottom,  read  "  Lunenburg,"  instead  of  Lit- 
tleton. 


'Jj — 


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